Numbers 35:9-34 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,… The various provisions of this law afford an impressive illustration of the Divine regard for human life. I. IN THE INSTITUTION OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE AS A PROVISION THAT THE LIFE OF AN INNOCENT PERSON SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY. The adaptation of these cities for this purpose appears in — 1. Their accessibility from all places. A reference to the map of Canaan will show that these cities were so situated that one of them could be reached in a few hours from any part of the country. 2. Their accessibility to all persons. "For the children of Israel, and for the stranger." God's regard is not simply for the life of the Israelite, but for the life of man as man. II. IN THE LAWS BY WHICH THE TRIAL OF THE MANSLAYER WAS TO BE CONDUCTED. The Divine guardianship of human life is manifested in these laws at least in two respects. 1. In the clear discrimination between intentional and unintentional manslaughter. "If he smite him with an instrument," &c. (vers. 16-24). 2. In the absolute necessity for the evidence of at least two witnesses before a man could be adjudged guilty of murder. One witness might be mistaken in his view of the case, or might be prejudiced against the homicide; hence the importance of the testimony of at least two witnesses in the trial of such cases. III. IN THE PUNISHMENT OF THE INTENTIONAL MANSLAYER. "The murderer shall surely be put to death" (vers. 16, 17, 18, 21, 30). As an evidence of the regard of God for human life, this punishment has additional weight from two facts. 1. It could not be averted by any ransom. The crime was too heinous to be expiated by anything less than life itself. 2. It was insisted upon for the most solemn reason. The argument seems to be this: that the shedding of human blood defiled the land, that such defilement could be cleansed only by the blood of the murderer; that the Lord Himself dwelt in that land, and therefore it must be kept free from defilement; if the murder were committed, the murderer must be put to death. To spare the life of a murderer was to insult Jehovah by defiling the land wherein He dwelt. IV. IN THE PUNISHMENT OF THE UNINTENTIONAL MANSLAYER. When it was proved on the trial that the manslayer was perfectly free from guilty designs, that he had slain another entirely by accident, even then he had to bear no light punishment. He must leave his estate and worldly interests, his home and his family, and dwell in the city of refuge. His dwelling there closely resembled imprisonment; for if he left the city, and its divinely appointed suburbs, the Goel, if he should come upon him, was at liberty to put him to death. 1. Respect human life — that of others, and your own also. 2. Guard against anger; for it leads to murder, and in the estimation of Heaven it is murder. 3. Cultivate brotherly kindness and Christian charity. (W. Jones.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, |
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