Numbers 35:23 - or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;
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What does "Numbers 35:23" mean?
This verse from Numbers 35:23 describes a specific scenario of accidental manslaughter. Let's break it down:
"or with any stone, by which a man may die...": This sets the scene. The person used a stone (or potentially any other object capable of causing death) in their actions.
"...not seeing him, and cast it on him...": This is the crucial part. The person who caused the death did NOT see the victim at the time of the action. The object was cast (thrown, dropped, or otherwise sent) towards the victim without the awareness that they were there.
"...so that he died...": This confirms that the action resulted in the death of the victim.
"...and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;": This is the most important part. The person who caused the death was not an enemy of the victim, nor did they intend to cause harm to them. There was no pre-existing animosity or intent to hurt the person.
In essence, the verse is defining a situation where someone unintentionally causes the death of another person without malice or intent to harm. This is accidental manslaughter.
Context in Numbers 35:
Numbers 35 is a chapter dealing with cities of refuge. These cities were designated places where someone who had accidentally killed another person could flee to avoid blood vengeance (revenge killings by the victim's family). This verse helps to define the kind of killing that warranted sanctuary in a city of refuge. It distinguishes accidental death from intentional murder, which would not be eligible for refuge.
Legal and Ethical Implications:
The verse establishes the principle that accidental death is different from murder and requires a different legal and moral response. It implies that the person who caused the death, although not morally culpable in the same way as a murderer, still bears some responsibility and needs protection from the consequences of blood vengeance. The cities of refuge provided that protection while allowing for a legal determination of the circumstances of the death.
In modern legal systems, this verse would be relevant to discussions about manslaughter and accidental death, helping to differentiate between crimes of intent and crimes of negligence. It highlights the importance of considering the circumstances and the intent of the person who caused the death when determining the appropriate consequences.
Numbers 35:23 - or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;
What does "Numbers 35:23" mean?
This verse from Numbers 35:23 describes a specific scenario of accidental manslaughter. Let's break it down:
"or with any stone, by which a man may die...": This sets the scene. The person used a stone (or potentially any other object capable of causing death) in their actions.
"...not seeing him, and cast it on him...": This is the crucial part. The person who caused the death did NOT see the victim at the time of the action. The object was cast (thrown, dropped, or otherwise sent) towards the victim without the awareness that they were there.
"...so that he died...": This confirms that the action resulted in the death of the victim.
"...and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;": This is the most important part. The person who caused the death was not an enemy of the victim, nor did they intend to cause harm to them. There was no pre-existing animosity or intent to hurt the person.
In essence, the verse is defining a situation where someone unintentionally causes the death of another person without malice or intent to harm. This is accidental manslaughter.
Context in Numbers 35:
Numbers 35 is a chapter dealing with cities of refuge. These cities were designated places where someone who had accidentally killed another person could flee to avoid blood vengeance (revenge killings by the victim's family). This verse helps to define the kind of killing that warranted sanctuary in a city of refuge. It distinguishes accidental death from intentional murder, which would not be eligible for refuge.
Legal and Ethical Implications:
The verse establishes the principle that accidental death is different from murder and requires a different legal and moral response. It implies that the person who caused the death, although not morally culpable in the same way as a murderer, still bears some responsibility and needs protection from the consequences of blood vengeance. The cities of refuge provided that protection while allowing for a legal determination of the circumstances of the death.
In modern legal systems, this verse would be relevant to discussions about manslaughter and accidental death, helping to differentiate between crimes of intent and crimes of negligence. It highlights the importance of considering the circumstances and the intent of the person who caused the death when determining the appropriate consequences.