John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And they shall answer and say , etc.] The elders of the city, at the time of the washing of their hands: our hands have not shed this blood ; have been no ways concerned in it, nor accessory to it: the Targum of Jonathan is, “it is manifest before the Lord that he did not come into our hands, nor did we dismiss him, that has shed this blood;” which is more fully explained in the Misnah f271 ; for had they been aware of him, or had any suspicion of him or his design, they would have detained him, or at least would not have suffered him to have departed alone: neither have our eyes seen ; it, or him; so the Targum of Jerusalem, “our eyes have not seen him that hath shed this blood;” by which expression is meant, that they had no manner of knowledge of the murderer, nor of any circumstance that could lead them to suspect or conclude who he was.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - If a murderer could not be found out, great solemnity is provided for putting away the guilt from the land, as an expression of dread an detesting of that sin. The providence of God has often wonderfull brought to light these hidden works of darkness, and the sin of the guilty has often strangely found them out. The dread of murder shoul be deeply impressed upon every heart, and all should join in detectin and punishing those who are guilty. The elders were to profess tha they had not been any way aiding or abetting the sin. The priests wer to pray to God for the country and nation, that God would be merciful We must empty that measure by our prayers, which others are filling by their sins. All would be taught by this solemnity, to use the utmos care and diligence to prevent, discover, and punish murder. We may all learn from hence to take heed of partaking in other men's sins. And we have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, if we do no reprove them.
Original Hebrew וענו6030 ואמרו559 ידינו3027 לא3808 שׁפכה8210 את853 הדם1818 הזה2088 ועינינו5869 לא3808 ראו׃7200
