Numbers 35:16

16 "But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:16

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he
die
As with an hatchet, hammer, sword, knife, &c.

he is a murderer;
the instrument used by him, and with which he smote, shows that he had a bad design, and intended to kill, or he would never have smitten a man with such an instrument:

the murderer shall surely be put to death;
be condemned to death, and be executed, by the order of the civil magistrate, according to the law in ( Genesis 9:6 ) and not be allowed the benefit of a city of refuge.

Numbers 35:16 In-Context

14 three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan.

15 These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.

16 "But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

17 If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

18 Or if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.