Numbers 35 24

Numbers 35:24 kjv

Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

Numbers 35:24 nkjv

then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.

Numbers 35:24 niv

the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.

Numbers 35:24 esv

then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.

Numbers 35:24 nlt

If this should happen, the community must follow these regulations in making a judgment between the slayer and the avenger, the victim's nearest relative:

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 24 Meaning

Numbers 35:24 establishes a vital legal process for determining justice in cases of homicide within ancient Israel. It dictates that the assembled community, the congregation, is responsible for impartially judging between the individual accused of causing death and the family member seeking vengeance for that death. This judgment must be carried out precisely "according to these rules," referring to the detailed legal guidelines distinguishing intentional murder from unintentional manslaughter provided earlier in the same chapter. This system ensures that justice is applied systematically and prevents both wrongful punishment and unchecked retribution.

Numbers 35 24 Context

Numbers 35 focuses on detailed regulations concerning the cities of refuge, levitical cities, and capital punishment. The verses immediately preceding Numbers 35:24 (verses 9-23) meticulously outline the distinction between intentional murder, which warranted capital punishment, and unintentional killing (manslaughter), which qualified for protection within a city of refuge. These prior verses define the objects used (iron, stone, wood), the manner (in ambush, in hatred), and the conditions (malice, suddenness) that would categorize an act as either murder or manslaughter. Verse 24, therefore, serves as the procedural mandate for how these distinctions are to be applied in a judicial setting. Historically, during the Mosaic era, the community's legal system involved communal assemblies (the congregation) often presided over by elders, playing a crucial role in serious judicial matters, especially those concerning life and death. This framework sought to control the ancient practice of blood vengeance (go'el ha-dam) by submitting it to a communal, rule-based process rather than allowing unrestrained family feuds.

Numbers 35 24 Word analysis

• Then (וְשָׁפְטָה, ve-shafeṭaḥ): This Hebrew conjunction ("and/then") connects the action described to the preceding context of categorizing homicide. It signifies the next logical step in the legal process after the initial event. It introduces the judicial phase where a determination must be made.
• the congregation (הָעֵדָה, ha'eidah): This term refers to the whole assembly of Israel, the community. It emphasizes that justice in such weighty matters was a collective responsibility, not solely left to an individual judge or leader. This collective responsibility served as a safeguard against corruption and ensured communal consensus on capital cases. It underscores the concept of a shared covenant identity and responsibility for the land's purity.
• shall judge (וְשָׁפְטָה, ve-shafeṭaḥ): From the root שׁפט (shaphat), meaning "to judge, rule, govern, decide, or administer justice." It denotes the formal legal act of adjudication, requiring careful consideration of evidence and facts according to established law, rather than merely passing a sentence. It implies a process of hearing both sides and reaching a righteous verdict.
• between (בֵּין, bein): Indicates the existence of two distinct parties or viewpoints requiring resolution through a judicial decision. It highlights the adversarial nature of the legal process, ensuring both sides present their case.
• the slayer (הַמַּכֶּה, ha-makkeh): Literally, "the one who struck" or "the striker." This is a neutral term for the person who caused the death, irrespective of intent at this stage of the process. The purpose of the judgment is to determine whether this "slayer" is a murderer or a manslayer.
• and (וּבֵין, u-vein): Connects the two opposing parties whose case is brought before the congregation.
• the avenger of blood (גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, go'el ha-dam): Literally, "the redeemer of blood" or "kinsman-redeemer of blood." This figure was typically the closest male relative of the deceased, tasked with avenging the death, initially outside formal courts. Here, God's law brings the go'el's traditional role under legal regulation, channeling natural vengeance into a controlled process. This person's presence in the trial highlights the emotional and societal tension inherent in such cases.
• according to these rules (כַּמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה, ka-mishpaṭim ha'eileh): Refers explicitly to the specific statutes and ordinances laid out in Numbers 35:9-23 regarding types of weapons, intent, and conditions that differentiate murder from manslaughter. This phrase is critical, establishing that the congregation's judgment is not arbitrary but must strictly adhere to God's divine law, ensuring impartiality and consistency in the application of justice. It underscores the emphasis on the rule of divine law rather than human opinion or custom.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the congregation shall judge": This phrase highlights the democratic or communal aspect of justice in ancient Israel. The collective body of the people, represented by its authorized leadership, was responsible for upholding divine law and maintaining the sanctity of life within the community. This wasn't merely a formal pronouncement but an active role in discerning truth and administering righteousness, contrasting with monarchical or dictatorial systems of judgment prevalent in surrounding nations.
• "between the slayer and the avenger of blood": This clause sets up the legal dispute. It shows the tension between the one accused of causing death and the one empowered to seek retribution. God's law intermediates this tension by bringing it into a structured legal process, preventing vigilante justice or unrestrained blood feuds which were common in tribal societies of that era. It signifies that even a deeply personal matter like vengeance is subject to the broader communal law.
• "according to these rules": This definitive statement ensures adherence to precise, divinely ordained laws. It underscores that justice is not based on popular opinion, emotion, or arbitrary power, but on objective divine standards revealed through Moses. This provision was essential for a nascent nation seeking to establish a just and orderly society distinct from the capricious legal systems of their neighbors. It also provided a clear framework for distinguishing different degrees of culpability.

Numbers 35 24 Bonus section

The institution described in Numbers 35, including the role of the congregation in judgment and the cities of refuge, finds significant echoes in New Testament theology. While the physical cities of refuge are no longer functional, the spiritual concept of a safe haven for those who have stumbled finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is our eternal refuge, the one to whom we flee from the avenger of our sins (Satan and the law's condemnation) when we unintentionally (or even intentionally in our former lives) commit offenses against God. The elaborate legal safeguards against arbitrary killing also reflect God’s perfect nature and His righteous desire to both establish order and extend mercy. This structure not only addressed the literal act of homicide but also highlighted the spiritual pollution that bloodshed brought upon the land (Num 35:33-34), indicating a divine concern for corporate spiritual well-being tied to adherence to God's moral law. The "go'el" concept itself is deeply rooted in redemptive themes in the Old Testament, pointing to one who acts on behalf of a distressed family member—whether for land, debt, or blood. While the go'el ha-dam was focused on vengeance for blood, the broader role of the go'el as a redeemer (Ruth 4:14, Lev 25:25) finds its ultimate meaning in Christ as our Kinsman-Redeemer, who purchased our freedom and avenged us against sin and death (Gal 3:13).

Numbers 35 24 Commentary

Numbers 35:24 encapsulates the core principles of divine justice within Israel's early legal system concerning capital offenses. It underscores the communal responsibility for justice, ensuring that society as a whole participates in upholding the sanctity of life and maintaining purity in the land. The direct involvement of "the congregation" signifies that justice for capital crimes was not isolated to a small judicial elite but bore on the conscience and integrity of the entire community. This served to educate the people on divine law and prevent apathy towards bloodshed. The verse’s precision, "according to these rules," reveals God's meticulous care for due process and the profound distinction between intentional murder and accidental killing, a progressive legal concept for its time. It brought the potentially volatile practice of blood vengeance under rigorous legal control, directing raw emotion into a disciplined search for truth and fairness, providing necessary protection for those who unintentionally caused death while guaranteeing justice for the murder victim. This foreshadows a deeper biblical truth that God is the ultimate righteous judge, and His justice is perfect, always according to His holy rules, protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty.