Numbers 35
DOYLY
a Josh. 21. 2.
AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Chap. XXXV. ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses &c.] Hitherto nothing had been said of the Levites, but that they should have no lot in the land of Canaan. But now God provides that they should have habitations assigned them to dwell in, though they had not fields, nor olive yards, &c. as their brethren had; with such a portion of ground about their houses as might serve for their more commodious subsistence. Bp. Patrick.
tribe of their father shall they marry.] The original division of land was to the several tribes according to their families; so that each tribe was settled in the same county, and each family in the same barony or hundred. Nor was the estate of any family in one tribe permitted to pass into another, even by the marriage of an heiress. So that, not only was the original balance of property preserved, but the closest and dearest connexions of affinity attached to each other the inhabitants of every vicinage. Thus domestic virtue and affection had a more extensive sphere of action: the happiness of rural life was increased, and a general attention to virtue and decorum was promoted, from that natural emulation, which each family would feel to preserve unsullied the reputation of their neighbourhood: and the poor might every where expect more ready assistance, since they implored it from men, whose sympathy in their sufferings would be quickened by hereditary friendship and hereditary connexion. Dr. Graves.
Numbers 35:3
3, 4, and 5.] The grounds, appropriated to the Levites, were to be close under the walls, or nearest to the buildings of the several towns, and were to consist of two parts. First, a space of about 500 yards in length, immediately from the walls round the town, was appropriated to them, for houses, stables, and stowages for their cattle of all kinds; and from thence the space of something above 1,000 yards of ground more, for their pasturage. Pyle.
Numbers 35:6
- — cities for refuge.] See Deut. iv. 42; xix. 4; and the notes there.
Numbers 35:7
- — all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites &c.] Moses allotted to the Levites these forty-eight cities in different parts of the land; that they might with more convenience go to perform religious offices in every quarter; particularly that of instructing the people, which Moses expressly assigns to their whole tribe, Deut. xxxiii. 10. Abp. Secker.
Of these Levitical cities, thirteen were properly sacerdotal; namely, those assigned to the sons of Aaron, to
whom the priesthood was exclusively confined: for though all were Levites, these only could be priests. And the legal economy of High Priest, Priest, and Levite, has been adopted in the Christian, of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon. Dr. Hales.
Numbers 35:8
- And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance &c.] Laws for inheritances. Before CHRIST 1451. her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.
Numbers 35:12
- — from the avenger;] Called “the revenger of blood,” ver. 19. The Hebrew signifies a Redeemer; and because the right of redemption of estates belonged to the nearest kinsman, the word imports such a kinsman here. Bp. Kidder.
— that the manslayer die not.] By a sudden heat of passion in the nearest kinsman to the deceased. This was a merciful provision, both for the manslayer, that he might be preserved; and for the avenger, that his blood might cool, by the removal of the manslayer out of his sight. Bp. Patrick.
— until he stand before the congregation] The city of refuge protected the innocent, and such as were not condemned, but it did not protect them from giving an account before the Judges. This they were obliged to do, either at their entrance into the city of refuge, Josh. xx. 4, or in the place where the fact was committed. Bp. Kidder.
Numbers 35:15
- — for the stranger,] Or proselyte, as in the Greek: that is, one who undertakes the religion of the Israelites, and was thereby distinguished from the sojourner, who, though he did not oblige himself to all their laws, was yet permitted to live among them. Bp. Kidder. Both
The laws of murder. No satisfaction for murder. Before CHRIST 1451. d Exod. 21. 14. a stone of the head. e Deut. 19. 21. f Exod. 21. 15. journer among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
Numbers 35:16
- And if he smite him &c.] Rather, But if he smite him. It was to be presumed, that he who ran at a man with a sword, or any such weapon, intended to do him a mischief; though perhaps he had no malice to him beforehand, but did it in a passion. Bp. Patrick. It was the opinion of a very learned judge, that if a man killed his neighbour with a weapon or instrument likely to kill him, it was malice prepense in the eye of the law. So that encounters, as they are called, and chance medley, &c. where the instrument was such as would probably kill a man, were murder. Bp. Wilson.
Numbers 35:20
- But if he thrust &c.] Rather, Or if he thrust &c. Pyle.
Numbers 35:21
- — shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.] The revenger of blood, to whom lawful authority shall commit the execution, shall slay the murderer: when he is delivered into his hand by a legal judgment, he shall be his executioner. Bp. Hall. He was not bound to stay for the judgment of the court, but might kill him wheresoever he found him. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 35:22
- But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, &c.] In all these judgments or rules, there is a plain exemption of what we call chance medley, from the guilt of murder; but not of that which we call manslaughter. A man that strikes, thrusts, or throws any thing with design of killing, is here a murderer, though he did it not out of an old envy, but on a sudden rage or passion. Dr. Wall.
Numbers 35:24
- — the congregation] The judges and elders, to whom such causes belong. Bp. Kidder.
Numbers 35:25
- — and he shall abide in it] This retirement of the manalayer appears to have been enjoined, for a warning to all others to be careful and watchful, lest by any negligence, surprise, or heedlessness, they endangered the life of any person: and at the same time, by the absence and retirement of the slayer, to mitigate the resentment of the relations and near friends of the slain, and prevent them from executing any revenge. Pyle. — unto the death of the high priest.] That being a time of publick mourning, when their great advocate died, was a fit season for men to lay aside their private animosities, and forget their particular feuds and quarrels. Bp. Kidder.
Numbers 35:31
- Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction &c.] If a murderer would have given all his estate to save his life, or the avenger of blood would have accepted a compensa- The law of the inheritance of daughters. Before CHRIST 1461. to die. can be no expiation for the land. which is † guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.