And ye profane not the land which ye are in, for blood profaneth the land; as to the land, it is not pardoned for blood which is shed in it except by the blood of him who sheddeth it;Numbers 35:33 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleFor blood it defileth the land - The very land was considered as guilty till the blood of the murderer was shed in it. No wonder God is so particularly strict in his laws against murderers,
1. Because he is the author of life, and none have any right to dispose of it but himself.
2. Because life is the time to prepare for the eternal world, and on it the salvation of the soul accordingly depends; therefore it is of infinite consequence to the man that his life be lengthened out to the utmost limits assigned by Divine Providence. As he who takes a man's life away before his time may be the murderer of his soul as well as of his body, the severest laws should be enacted against this, both to punish and prevent the crime.
The Mosaic cities of refuge have in general been considered, not merely as civil institutions, but as types or representations of infinitely better things; and in this light St. Paul seems to have considered them and the altar of God, which was a place of general refuge, as it is pretty evident that he had them in view when writing the following words: "God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, (his oath and promise), in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have Fled for Refuge to lay Hold upon the Hope set before us," Hebrews 6:17, Hebrews 6:18. Independently of this, it was a very wise political institute; and while the patriarchal law on this point continued in force, this law had a direct tendency to cool and moderate the spirit of revenge, to secure the proper accomplishment of the ends of justice, and to make way for every claim of mercy and equity. But this is not peculiar to the ordinance of the cities of refuge; every institution of God is distinguished in the same way, having his own glory, in the present and eternal welfare of man, immediately in view.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it defileth
Leviticus 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof on it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants.
Deuteronomy 21:1-8,23 If one be found slain in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess it, lying in the field...
2 Kings 23:26 Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah...
2 Kings 24:4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
Psalm 106:28 They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity...
Ezekiel 22:24-27 Son of man, say to her, You are the land that is not cleansed, nor rained on in the day of indignation...
Hosea 4:2,3 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood...
Micah 4:11 Now also many nations are gathered against you, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look on Zion.
Matthew 23:31-35 Why you be witnesses to yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets...
Luke 11:50,51 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation...
the land cannot be cleansed. Heb. there can be no expiation for the land
Numbers 35:33 Parallel Commentaries
Atonement Blood Bloodshed Cause Cleansed Death Defileth Except Expiation Live Makes Making Pardoned Polluteth Profane Profaneth Shed Sheddeth Therein Unholy Way WhereinAtonement Blood Bloodshed Cause Cleansed Death Defileth Except Expiation Live Makes Making Pardoned Polluteth Profane Profaneth Shed Sheddeth Therein Unholy Way WhereinTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Numbers 35:33 Mobile Bible
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