30 whoso smiteth a person, by the mouth of witnesses doth `one' slay the murderer; and one witness doth not testify against a person -- to die.
`One witness doth not rise against a man for any iniquity, and for any sin, in any sin which he sinneth; by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, is a thing established.
and if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.
any one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or three witnesses, doth die,
and also in your law it hath been written, that the testimony of two men are true; I am `one' who is testifying of myself, and the Father who sent me doth testify of me.'
`And if with an instrument of iron he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he `is' a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death.
By the mouth of two witnesses or of three witnesses is he who is dead put to death; he is not put to death by the mouth of one witness; the hand of the witnesses is on him, in the first place, to put him to death, and the hand of all the people last; and thou hast put away the evil thing out of thy midst.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 35
Commentary on Numbers 35 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 35
Orders having been given before for the dividing of the land of Canaan among the lay-tribes (as I may call them), care is here taken for a competent provision for the clergy, the tribe of Levi, which ministered in holy things.
Num 35:1-8
The laws about the tithes and offerings had provided very plentifully for the maintenance of the Levites, but it was not to be thought, nor indeed was it for the public good, that when they came to Canaan they should all live about the tabernacle, as they had done in the wilderness, and therefore care must be taken to provide habitations for them, in which they might live comfortably and usefully. It is this which is here taken care of.
Num 35:9-34
We have here the orders given concerning the cities of refuge, fitly annexed to what goes before, because they were all Levites' cities. In this part of the constitution there is a great deal both of good law and pure gospel.