Numbers - 35:20



20 If he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died,

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Numbers 35:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
If through hatred any one push a man, or fling any thing- at him with ill design:
And if he thrust at him out of hatred, or hurl at him intentionally, so that he die,
And if in hatred he thrust him through, or hath cast anything at him by lying in wait, and he dieth;
If in his hate he put a sword through him, or waiting secretly for him sent a spear or stone at him, causing his death;
And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him any thing, lying in wait, so that he died;
If, out of hatred, anyone assaults a man, or throws anything at him with ill intent,
Si per odium, inquam, impulerit eum, aut projecerit aliquid in eum per insidias, et mortuus fuerit.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

But if he thrust him of hatred,.... Or, "and if" (r), since the Scripture is still speaking of such that shall die for murder, though in another instance, without having the privilege of a city of refuge; if he thrusts him with a sword or knife, or rather, since, if anything of that kind is included in the first instance of smiting with an instrument of iron, push him down from an high place, as Aben Ezra; so the men of Nazareth intended to have dispatched Christ in that way, Luke 4:29.
or hurl at him by lying in wait, that he die; as a bowing wall, as the same writer instances in, push down that upon him as he passes along, lying in wait for him; or throws anything at him, with an intention to kill him, and does; or casts down anything upon him, a large stone, or anything else, by which he dies.
(r) "et si", Pagninus, Montanus.

And so also the man who hit another in hatred, or threw at him by lying in wait, or struck him with the hand in enmity, so that he died. And if a murderer of this kind fled into a free city, the elders of his city were to have him fetched out and delivered up to the avenger of blood (Deuteronomy 19:11-12). Then follow, in Numbers 35:22-28, the proceedings to be taken with an unintentional manslayer, viz., if any one hit another "in the moment," i.e., suddenly, unawares (Numbers 6:9), without enmity, or by throwing anything upon him, without lying in wait, or by letting a stone, by which a man might be killed, fall upon him without seeing him, so that he died in consequence, but without being his enemy, or watching to do him harm. In using the expression בּכל־אבן, the writer had probably השׁליך still in his mind; but he dropped this word, and wrote ויּפּל in the form of a fresh sentence. The thing intended is explained still more clearly in Deuteronomy 19:4-5. Instead of בּפתע, we find there בּבלי־דעת, without knowing unintentionally. The words, "without being his enemy," are paraphrased there by, "without hating him from yesterday and the day before yesterday" (i.e., previously), and are explained by an example taken from the life: "When a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron slippeth (נשׁל Niphal of שׁלל) from the wood (handle), and lighteth upon his neighbour."

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