Numbers 35:17

17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

Numbers 35:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:17

And if he smite him with throwing a stone
"Or with a stone of the hand" ^F17, which the Jews interpret of a stone so big as to fill a man's hand, and so

wherewith he may die;
at whom it is thrown; is sufficient to cause his death, if struck with it; so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it of a

``stone of fulness of hands, which is sufficient that a man may die with it,''

or be killed by it:

and he die;
by the blow he receives from it, either immediately or in a short time after:

he is a murderer, and the murderer shall surely be put to death;
as in the above case.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (dy Nbab) .

Numbers 35:17 In-Context

15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.

16 "But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.