Discovery BoxNumbers 15:35 
Context15:35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; the whole community must stone 1 him with stones outside the camp.”
Numbers 16:29
Context16:29 If these men die a natural death, 2 or if they share the fate 3 of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.
Numbers 35:16
Context35:16 “But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, 4 he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.
1 tn The sentence begins with the emphatic use of the infinitive absolute with the verb in the Hophal imperfect: “he shall surely be put to death.” Then, a second infinitive absolute רָגוֹם (ragom) provides the explanatory activity – all the community is to stone him with stones. The punishment is consistent with other decrees from God (see Exod 31:14,15; 35:2). Moses had either forgotten such, or they had simply neglected to (or were hesitant to) enact them.
2 tn Heb “if like the death of every man they die.”
3 tn The noun is פְּקֻדָּה (pÿquddah, “appointment, visitation”). The expression refers to a natural death, parallel to the first expression.
4 tn the verb is the preterite of “die.” The sentence has :“if…he strikes him and he dies.” The vav (ו) consecutive is showing the natural result of the blow.
