Numbers 35:17
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Numbers 35:17
17 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.
Chapter Context
Numbers 35 is a mixed narrative and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of fellowship, faith, grace. Written during Israel's wilderness period (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The wilderness journey occurred between Egypt's dominance and the Canaanite tribal systems.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-34: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Numbers and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Numbers 35:17
17 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.
Analysis
If he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die—a second category of murder: using projectile weapons capable of inflicting fatal injury. The phrase 'wherewith he may die' (אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ, asher-yamut bah) indicates the stone's deadly potential was known to the assailant. This wasn't a pebble thrown in jest but a rock selected and hurled with lethal force.
The repetition he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death appears throughout verses 16-21, a liturgical refrain emphasizing that intent, not just outcome, determines guilt. God judges the heart's malice, not merely the hand's action (cf. Matthew 5:21-22).
Historical Context
Stone-throwing was common in ancient Near Eastern conflicts and judicial executions (Leviticus 24:16, John 8:59). The law's specificity regarding stone size and throwing distance reflects the casual availability of stones as weapons in Israel's rocky terrain.
Reflection
- How does the criterion 'wherewith he may die' demonstrate that biblical justice evaluates both means and motive?
- What New Testament principle echoes this law's concern with the heart's intent behind outward actions?