After the flood God spoke to Noah and his sons.[1]
|
Masoretic Text
|
Septuagint |
| Genesis 9:5, 6 (Tanakh) |
Genesis 9:5, 6 (NET) |
Genesis 9:5, 6 (NETS) |
Genesis 9:5, 6 (English Elpenor)
|
| And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. |
For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative. |
For truly, your blood of your lives I will seek out: from the hand of all the animals I will seek it out, and from the hand of a fellow human I will seek out the life of the human. |
For your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of [his] brother man. |
| Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם) shall his blood be shed; for in the image of G-d made He man. |
“Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans (‘āḏām, באדם) must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind. |
As for the one who sheds a human’s blood, in return for this blood shall it be shed. For by divine image I made humankind. |
He that sheds man’s blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man. |
Rashi’s commentary reads:
through man shall his blood be shed: If there are witnesses, you kill him. Why? “For in the image of God, etc.”
In another essay, reading only from the Masoretic text, I called this “a righteous expectation of the law God gave Noah and his sons after the flood.” I wrote, “God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) spoke one law to address violence” in another. And in another, even after checking the Septuagint but not yet giving it the weight I do today, I used this “law” to justify killing the Canaanites: “In this sense then Israel’s army became a limited cleansing flood, as opposed to the flood yehôvâh promised not to unleash again to destroy the earth.”
The Septuagint doesn’t include the phrase by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם), or by other humans (NET). It is entirely possible that אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘ĕlōhîm) described his own attitude and actions toward murderers henceforward rather than delegating that authority to human beings through a law, regardless if human beings understood his words as open season on those who killed their loved ones.
He said: your blood of your lives will I require (אֶדְר֔שׁ), I will surely exact punishment[2] (NET), I will seek out (ἐκζητήσω), will I require it (אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ), I will exact punishment (NET), I will seek it out (ἐκζητήσω), will I require (English Elpenor), will I require (אֶדְר֖שׁ) the life of man (Tanakh), I will exact punishment (NET), I will seek out (ἐκζητήσω), and I will require (English Elpenor).
At any rate it finally got through to me how I may be blaspheming God and the law by calling this brief passage law. When this issue is finally addressed in the law it is described in detail and in the context of cities of refuge:
|
Masoretic Text
|
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:9-11 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:9-11 (NET) |
Numbers 35:9-11 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:9-11 (English Elpenor)
|
| And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: |
Then the Lord spoke to Moses: |
And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: |
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, |
| ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, |
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, |
Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: As for you, you are crossing the Jordan into the land of Chanaan, |
Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Ye are to cross over Jordan into the land of Chanaan. |
| then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person through error may flee thither. |
you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. |
and you shall set aside for yourselves cities; they shall be places of refuge for you for the murderer to flee there, everyone who strikes a soul unintentionally. |
And ye shall appoint to yourselves cities: they shall be to you cities of refuge for the slayer to flee to, every one who has killed another unintentionally. |
As one might expect, the legal concept through error (בִּשְׁגָגָֽה) or unintentionally (ἀκουσίως) was spelled out in some detail in the law:
|
Masoretic Text
|
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:22-25 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:22-25 (NET) |
Numbers 35:22-25 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:22-25 (English Elpenor)
|
| But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait, [Table] |
“But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally |
But if he pushes him suddenly, not out of enmity, or throws at him any object not from an ambush |
But if he should thrust him suddenly, not through enmity, or cast any thing upon him, not from an ambuscade, |
| or with any stone, whereby a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; [Table] |
or with any stone large enough that a man could die, without seeing him, and throws it at him, and he dies, even though he was not his enemy nor sought his harm, |
or with any stone—by which he may die—unknowingly, and it falls upon him and he dies but he is not his enemy nor was he seeking to harm him, |
or [smite him] with any stone, whereby a man may die, unawares, and it should fall upon him, and he should die, but he was not his enemy, nor sought to hurt him; |
| then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances; [Table] |
then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions. |
then the congregation shall judge between the striker and between the one doing the relative’s blood duty, according to these judgments, |
then the assembly shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood, according to these judgments. |
| and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he was fled; and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil [Table]. |
The community must deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the community must restore him to the town of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the consecrated oil. |
and the congregation shall rescue the one that committed murder from the one doing the relative’s blood duty. And the congregation shall restore him to the city of his place of refuge, where he fled for refuge. And he shall live there until the great priest dies, him whom they anointed with the holy oil. |
And the congregation shall rescue the slayer from the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he fled for refuge; and he shall dwell there till the death of the high-priest, whom they anointed with the holy oil. |
This was contrasted to the conditions that called for a guilty verdict and the death penalty:
|
Masoretic Text
|
Septuagint |
|
Numbers 35:16-21 (Tanakh)
|
Numbers 35:16-21 (NET) |
Numbers 35:16-21 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:16-21 (English Elpenor)
|
| But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
“‘But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. |
But if he strikes him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. |
And if he should smite him with an iron instrument, and the man should die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death. |
| And if he smote him with a stone in the hand (יָד֩), whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
If he strikes him by throwing (yāḏ, יד) a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. |
Now if he strikes him with a stone out of hand (ἐκ χειρός)—by which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. |
And if he should smite him with a stone [thrown] from his hand (ἐκ χειρός), whereby a man may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death. |
| Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand (יָד֩), whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand (yāḏ, יד) weapon so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. |
Now if he strikes him with a wooden instrument out of hand (ἐκ χειρός)—from which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. |
And if he should smite him with an instrument of wood from his hand (ἐκ χειρός), whereby he may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death. |
| The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death. |
The avenger of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him. |
As for the one doing the relative’s blood duty, he shall kill the one that committed murder; when he meets up with him, he shall kill him. |
The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: whensoever he shall meet him he shall slay him. |
| And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him any thing, lying in wait, so that he died; [Table] |
“‘But if he strikes him out of hatred or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies, |
Now if out of enmity he pushes him and hurls at him any object from an ambush and he dies |
And if he should thrust him through enmity, or cast any thing upon him from an ambuscade, and the man should die, |
| or in enmity smote him with his hand, that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death: he is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meeteth him [Table]. |
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. |
or out of rage he struck him with the hand and he dies, let the one who struck be put to death by death—he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death; the one doing the relative’s blood duty shall strike the one that committed murder when he meets him. |
or if he have smitten him with his hand through anger, and the man should die, let the man that smote him be put to death by all means, he is a murderer: let the murderer by all means be put to death: the avenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meets him. |
The law continued to clarify the meaning of the cities of refuge:
| Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:12-15 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:12-15 (NET) |
Numbers 35:12-15 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:12-15 (English Elpenor) |
| And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment. |
And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. |
And the cities shall be for you places of refuge from one doing the relative’s blood duty, and the one that commits murder will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. |
And the cities shall be to you places of refuge from the avenger of blood, and the slayer shall not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. |
| And as to the cities which ye shall give, there shall be for you six cities of refuge. |
These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge. |
And the cities that you give as the six cities shall be places of refuge for you. |
And the cities which ye shall assign, [even] the six cities, shall be places of refuge for you. |
| Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. |
“‘You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge. |
Three cities you shall give beyond the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Chanaan. |
Ye shall assign three cities on the other side of Jordan, and ye shall assign three cities in the land of Chanaan. |
| For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the settler among them, shall these six cities be for refuge, that every one that killeth any person through error may flee thither. |
These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the resident foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there. |
They shall be an asylum for the sons of Israel and for the guest and for the resident alien among you. These cities shall be a place of refuge for everyone to flee there when he strikes a soul unintentionally. |
It shall be a place of refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for him that sojourns among you; these cities shall be for a place of refuge, for every one to flee thither who has killed a man unintentionally. |
While the city of refuge was not exactly house arrest, it was an enforceable exile for an indeterminate period of time.
| Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:26-28 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:26-28 (NET) |
Numbers 35:26-28 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:26-28 (English Elpenor) |
| But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth; |
But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled, |
But if he that commits murder by an exit leaves the bounds of the city, there where he fled for refuge, |
But if the slayer should in any wise go out beyond the bounds of the city whither he fled for refuge, |
| and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him; |
and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood, |
and the one doing the relative’s blood duty finds him outside the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the one doing the relative’s blood duty kills the one that committed murder, he is not liable. |
and the avenger of blood should find him without the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood should kill the slayer, he is not guilty. |
| because he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return into the land of his possession. |
because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions. |
For let him live in the city of refuge until the great priest dies, and after the great priest dies, he that committed murder shall return to the land of his possession. |
For he ought to have remained in the city of refuge till the high-priest died; and after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return to the land of his possession. |
Some sentencing guidelines followed:
| Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:29-32 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:29-32 (NET) |
Numbers 35:29-32 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:29-32 (English Elpenor) |
| And these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. |
So these things must be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live. |
And these things shall be for you a requirement of judgment for your generations in all your settlements. |
And these things shall be to you for an ordinance of judgment throughout your generations in all your dwellings. |
| Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. |
“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses, but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. |
Every one, when he strikes a soul, through witnesses you shall kill the murderer, and one witness shall not bear witness against a soul that he should die. |
Whoever kills a man, thou shalt slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die. |
| Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. |
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. |
And you shall not receive ransom for a soul from the one that committed murder, liable to be killed, for he shall be put to death by death. |
And ye shall not accept ransoms for life from a murderer who is worthy of death, for he shall be surely put to death. |
| And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. |
And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. |
And you shall not receive ransom to flee to a city of places of refuge to live again on the land until the great priest dies. |
Ye shall not accept a ransom [to excuse] his fleeing to the city of refuge, so that he should again dwell in the land, until the death of the high-priest. |
The rationale for all of this legislation followed:
| Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
| Numbers 35:33, 34 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:33, 34 (NET) |
Numbers 35:33, 34 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:33, 34 (English Elpenor) |
| So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. |
“‘You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it. |
And you shall not kill by murder the land on which you live. For this blood kills the land by murder, and the land shall not be atoned for from the blood that was shed upon it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. |
So shall ye not pollute with murder the land in which ye dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land shall not be purged from the blood shed upon it, but by the blood of him that shed it. |
| And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I HaShem dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.’ |
Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the Israelites.’” |
And you shall not defile the land that you live upon, on which I will encamp among you, for I am the Lord, encamping in the midst of the sons of Israel. |
And ye shall not defile the land whereon ye dwell, on which I dwell in the midst of you; for I am the Lord dwelling in the midst of the children of Israel. |
This rationale is very consistent with the Lord’s word to Cain after he had murdered Abel:
| Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
| Genesis 4:10b-12a (Tanakh) |
Genesis 4:10b-12a (NET) |
Genesis 4:10b-12a (NETS) |
Genesis 4:10b-12a (English Elpenor) |
| the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground [Table]. |
The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! |
The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the earth! |
the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to me out of the ground. |
| And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand [Table]. |
So now you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. |
And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened wide its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. |
And now thou [art] cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand. |
| When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; [Table] |
When you try to cultivate the ground it will no longer yield its best for you. |
For you will till the earth, and it will not continue to yield its strength to you; |
When thou tillest the earth, then it shall not continue to give its strength to thee: |
What is not consistent is the killing spree God inaugurated in Genesis 9:6 in the Masoretic text only. It is so inconsistent it can serve as evidence that the phrase by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם), or by other humans (NET), was added erroneously to the original text. I’ll pick this up in another essay.
Tables comparing Genesis 9:5; 9:6; Numbers 35:9; 35:10; 35:11; 35:16; 35:17; 35:18; 35:19; 35:12; 35:13; 35:14; 35:15; 35:26; 35:27; 35:28; 35:29; 35:30; 35:31; 35:32; 35:33 and 35:34 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 9:5; 9:6; Numbers 35:9; 35:10; 35:11; 35:16; 35:17; 35:18; 35:19; 35:12; 35:13; 35:14; 35:15; 35:26; 35:27; 35:28; 35:29; 35:30; 35:31; 35:32; 35:33 and 35:34 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.
| Genesis 9:5 (Tanakh) |
Genesis 9:5 (KJV) |
Genesis 9:5 (NET) |
| And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. |
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. |
For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative. |
| Genesis 9:5 (Septuagint BLB) |
Genesis 9:5 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ γὰρ τὸ ὑμέτερον αἷμα τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἐκζητήσω ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θηρίων ἐκζητήσω αὐτὸ καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδελφοῦ ἐκζητήσω τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου |
καὶ γὰρ τὸ ὑμέτερον αἷμα τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θηρίων ἐκζητήσω αὐτὸ καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδελφοῦ ἐκζητήσω τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου |
| Genesis 9:5 (NETS) |
Genesis 9:5 (English Elpenor) |
| For truly, your blood of your lives I will seek out: from the hand of all the animals I will seek it out, and from the hand of a fellow human I will seek out the life of the human. |
For your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of [his] brother man. |
| Genesis 9:6 (Tanakh) |
Genesis 9:6 (KJV) |
Genesis 9:6 (NET) |
| Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of G-d made He man. |
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. |
“Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind. |
| Genesis 9:6 (Septuagint BLB) |
Genesis 9:6 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ὁ ἐκχέων αἷμα ἀνθρώπου ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ἐκχυθήσεται ὅτι ἐν εἰκόνι θεοῦ ἐποίησα τὸν ἄνθρωπον |
ὁ ἐκχέων αἷμα ἀνθρώπου, ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ἐκχυθήσεται, ὅτι ἐν εἰκόνι Θεοῦ ἐποίησα τὸν ἄνθρωπον |
| Genesis 9:6 (NETS) |
Genesis 9:6 (English Elpenor) |
| As for the one who sheds a human’s blood, in return for this blood shall it be shed. For by divine image I made humankind. |
He that sheds man’s blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man. |
| Numbers 35:10 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:10 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:10 (NET) |
| ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, |
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; |
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, |
| Numbers 35:11 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:11 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:11 (NET) |
| then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person through error may flee thither. |
Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. |
you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. |
| Numbers 35:11 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:11 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ διαστελεῗτε ὑμῗν αὐτοῗς πόλεις φυγαδευτήρια ἔσται ὑμῗν φυγεῗν ἐκεῗ τὸν φονευτήν πᾶς ὁ πατάξας ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως |
καὶ διαστελεῖτε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς πόλεις· φυγαδευτήρια ἔσται ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ τὸν φονευτήν, πᾶς ὁ πατάξας ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως |
| Numbers 35:11 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:11 (English Elpenor) |
| and you shall set aside for yourselves cities; they shall be places of refuge for you for the murderer to flee there, everyone who strikes a soul unintentionally. |
And ye shall appoint to yourselves cities: they shall be to you cities of refuge for the slayer to flee to, every one who has killed another unintentionally. |
| Numbers 35:16 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:16 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:16 (NET) |
| But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
“‘But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. |
| Numbers 35:17 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:17 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:17 (NET) |
| And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
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. |
| Numbers 35:17 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:17 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ἐὰν δὲ ἐν λίθῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής |
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν λίθῳ ἐκ χειρός, ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ, πατάξῃ αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, φονευτής ἐστι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής |
| Numbers 35:17 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:17 (English Elpenor) |
| Now if he strikes him with a stone out of hand—by which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. |
And if he should smite him with a stone [thrown] from his hand, whereby a man may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death. |
| Numbers 35:18 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:18 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:18 (NET) |
| Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. |
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. |
| Numbers 35:18 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:18 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει ξυλίνῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐξ οὗ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής |
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει ξυλίνῳ ἐκ χειρός, ἐξ οὗ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ, πατάξῃ αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, φονευτής ἐστι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής |
| Numbers 35:18 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:18 (English Elpenor) |
| Now if he strikes him with a wooden instrument out of hand—from which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. |
And if he should smite him with an instrument of wood from his hand, whereby he may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death. |
| Numbers 35:19 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:19 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:19 (NET) |
| The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death. |
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. |
The avenger of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him. |
| Numbers 35:12 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:12 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:12 (NET) |
| And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment. |
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. |
And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. |
| Numbers 35:12 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:12 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις ὑμῗν φυγαδευτήρια ἀπὸ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ φονεύων ἕως ἂν στῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν |
καὶ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις ὑμῖν φυγαδευτήρια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ φονεύων ἕως ἂν στῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν |
| Numbers 35:12 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:12 (English Elpenor) |
| And the cities shall be for you places of refuge from one doing the relative’s blood duty, and the one that commits murder will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. |
And the cities shall be to you places of refuge from the avenger of blood, and the slayer shall not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. |
| Numbers 35:14 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:14 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:14 (NET) |
| Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. |
Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. |
“‘You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge. |
| Numbers 35:15 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:15 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:15 (NET) |
| For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the settler among them, shall these six cities be for refuge, that every one that killeth any person through error may flee thither. |
These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. |
These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the resident foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there. |
| Numbers 35:15 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:15 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| φυγάδιον ἔσται τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ὑμῗν ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις αὗται εἰς φυγαδευτήριον φυγεῗν ἐκεῗ παντὶ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως |
φυγαδεῖον ἔσται τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις αὗται εἰς φυγαδευτήριον, φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ παντὶ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως |
| Numbers 35:15 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:15 (English Elpenor) |
| They shall be an asylum for the sons of Israel and for the guest and for the resident alien among you. These cities shall be a place of refuge for everyone to flee there when he strikes a soul unintentionally. |
It shall be a place of refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for him that sojourns among you; these cities shall be for a place of refuge, for every one to flee thither who has killed a man unintentionally. |
| Numbers 35:26 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:26 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:26 (NET) |
| But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth; |
But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; |
But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled, |
| Numbers 35:27 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:27 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:27 (NET) |
| and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him; |
And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: |
and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood, |
| Numbers 35:27 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:27 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ εὕρῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἔξω τῶν ὁρίων τῆς πόλεως καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φονεύσῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα τὸν φονεύσαντα οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν |
καὶ εὕρῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἔξω τῶν ὁρίων τῆς πόλεως καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φονεύσῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα τὸν φονεύσαντα, οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν |
| Numbers 35:27 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:27 (English Elpenor) |
| and the one doing the relative’s blood duty finds him outside the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the one doing the relative’s blood duty kills the one that committed murder, he is not liable. |
and the avenger of blood should find him without the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood should kill the slayer, he is not guilty. |
| Numbers 35:28 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:28 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:28 (NET) |
| because he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return into the land of his possession. |
Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. |
because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions. |
| Numbers 35:28 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:28 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ἐν γὰρ τῇ πόλει τῆς καταφυγῆς κατοικείτω ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῗν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ἐπαναστραφήσεται ὁ φονεύσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ |
ἐν γὰρ τῇ πόλει τῆς καταφυγῆς κατοικείτω, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ἐπαναστραφήσεται ὁ φονεύσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ |
| Numbers 35:28 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:28 (English Elpenor) |
| For let him live in the city of refuge until the great priest dies, and after the great priest dies, he that committed murder shall return to the land of his possession. |
For he ought to have remained in the city of refuge till the high-priest died; and after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return to the land of his possession. |
| Numbers 35:29 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:29 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:29 (NET) |
| And these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. |
So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. |
So these things must be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live. |
| Numbers 35:30 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:30 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:30 (NET) |
| Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. |
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. |
“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses, but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. |
| Numbers 35:30 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:30 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν διὰ μαρτύρων φονεύσεις τὸν φονεύσαντα καὶ μάρτυς εἷς οὐ μαρτυρήσει ἐπὶ ψυχὴν ἀποθανεῗν |
πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν, διὰ μαρτύρων φονεύσεις τὸν φονεύσαντα, καὶ μάρτυς εἷς οὐ μαρτυρήσει ἐπὶ ψυχὴν ἀποθανεῖν |
| Numbers 35:30 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:30 (English Elpenor) |
| Every one, when he strikes a soul, through witnesses you shall kill the murderer, and one witness shall not bear witness against a soul that he should die. |
Whoever kills a man, thou shalt slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die. |
| Numbers 35:31 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:31 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:31 (NET) |
| Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. |
Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. |
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. |
| Numbers 35:32 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:32 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:32 (NET) |
| And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. |
And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. |
And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. |
| Numbers 35:33 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:33 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:33 (NET) |
| So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. |
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. |
“‘You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it. |
| Numbers 35:33 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:33 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε τὴν γῆν εἰς ἣν ὑμεῗς κατοικεῗτε τὸ γὰρ αἷμα τοῦτο φονοκτονεῗ τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος |
καὶ οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε τὴν γῆν, εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς κατοικεῖτε· τὸ γὰρ αἷμα τοῦτο φονοκτονεῖ τὴν γῆν, καὶ οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος |
| Numbers 35:33 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:33 (English Elpenor) |
| And you shall not kill by murder the land on which you live. For this blood kills the land by murder, and the land shall not be atoned for from the blood that was shed upon it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. |
So shall ye not pollute with murder the land in which ye dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land shall not be purged from the blood shed upon it, but by the blood of him that shed it. |
| Numbers 35:34 (Tanakh) |
Numbers 35:34 (KJV) |
Numbers 35:34 (NET) |
| And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I HaShem dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.’ |
Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. |
Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the Israelites.’” |
| Numbers 35:34 (Septuagint BLB) |
Numbers 35:34 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| καὶ οὐ μιανεῗτε τὴν γῆν ἐφ᾽ ἧς κατοικεῗτε ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἐφ᾽ ἧς ἐγὼ κατασκηνώσω ἐν ὑμῗν ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι κύριος κατασκηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ |
καὶ οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν, ἐφ’ ἧς κατοικεῖτε ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, ἐφ’ ἧς ἐγὼ κατασκηνῶ ἐν ὑμῖν· ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι Κύριος κατασκηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ |
| Numbers 35:34 (NETS) |
Numbers 35:34 (English Elpenor) |
| And you shall not defile the land that you live upon, on which I will encamp among you, for I am the Lord, encamping in the midst of the sons of Israel. |
And ye shall not defile the land whereon ye dwell, on which I dwell in the midst of you; for I am the Lord dwelling in the midst of the children of Israel. |
[1] Genesis 9:1
[2] NET note 11: The word “punishment” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification. The verb דָּרָשׁ (darash) means “to require, to seek, to ask for, to exact.” Here it means that God will exact punishment for the taking of a life. See R. Mawdsley, “Capital Punishment in Gen. 9:6,” CentBib 18 (1975): 20-25.
Pingback: Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 10 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind
Pingback: Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 11 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind
Pingback: Jedidiah, Part 6 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind
Pingback: A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 7 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind
Pingback: A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 6 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind
Pingback: A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 4 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind