John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live , etc.] It was not any slayer that might have protection in these cities, but such who were thus and thus circumstanced, or whose case was as follows: whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly ; without intention, as the Targum of Jonathan, did not design it, but was done by him unawares: whom he hated not in time past ; had never shown by words or deeds that he had any hatred of him or enmity to him three days ago; so that if there were no marks of hatred, or proofs of it three days before this happened, it was reckoned an accidental thing, and not done on purpose, as this phrase is usually interpreted; (see Exodus 21:29).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - Here is the law settled between the blood of the murdered, and the blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the cities of refug should be a protection, so that a man should not die for that as crime, which was not his willing act. In Christ, the Lord ou Righteousness, refuge is provided for those who by faith flee unto him But there is no refuge in Jesus Christ for presumptuous sinners, who go on still in their trespasses. Those who flee to Christ from their sins shall be safe in him, but not those who expect to be sheltered by his in their sins.
Original Hebrew וזה2088 דבר1697 הרצח7523 אשׁר834 ינוס5127 שׁמה8033 וחי2425 אשׁר834 יכה5221 את853 רעהו7453 בבלי1097 דעת1847 והוא1931 לא3808 שׂנא8130 לו מתמל8543 שׁלשׁם׃8032
