Discovery BoxNumbers 35:16-19 
Context35:16 “But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, 1 he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 35:17 If he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 35:18 Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 35:19 The avenger 2 of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him.
Numbers 35:21
Context35:21 or with enmity he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death, for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood must kill the murderer when he meets him.
Numbers 35:30-31
Context35:30 “Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony 3 of witnesses; but one witness cannot 4 testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. 35:31 Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death.
1 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.
2 tn The participle גֹּאֵל (go’el) is the one who protects the family by seeking vengeance for a crime. This is the same verb used for levirate marriages and other related customs.
3 tn Heb “ at the mouth of”; the metonymy stresses it is at their report.
4 tn The verb should be given the nuance of imperfect of potentiality.
