Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 35:31
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.
31, 32. The murderer’s life may not be ransomed. And the man who has committed accidental homicide may not pay a ransom in lieu of detention in the city of refuge. These prohibitions emphasize the extreme value of human life.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
No satisfaction – Rather, ransom (see Exo 21:30). The permission to demand pecuniary compensation for murders (expressly sanctioned by the Koran) undoubtedly mitigates, in practice, the system of private retaliation; but it does so by sacrificing the principle named in Num 35:12, Num 35:33.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer] No atonement could be made for him, nor any commutation, so as to save him from death. All the laws of the civilized world have either adjudged the murderer to death, or to a punishment equivalent to it; such as perpetual imprisonment, in a dungeon, under ground, on a stone floor, without light, and to be fed on a small portion of bread and water. In such circumstances a man could live but a short time; and though it is not called the punishment of death, yet, from its inevitable consequences, it only differed from it by being a little longer respite than was usual where the punishment of death was awarded. See Clarke on Ge 9:6.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
No intercession nor ransom shall be accepted to save his life, or procure him a pardon.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer,…. Though he would give all his wealth and substance, all his estates and possessions, and whatever he is worth in the world; for all that a man has he will give for his life; but these are not to be taken, nor anything, and everything his friends may offer for him; all is to be rejected, the life of such a man is not to be saved on any consideration:
which is guilty of death; as he is who kills a man willingly and purposely; but one may be guilty of killing another, and yet not be deserving of death, when it is done ignorantly and accidentally with respect to him, for which reason this clause is added: but he shall be surely put to death; by the order of the civil magistrate; and if this is not done either through want of evidence, or the fault of the judge, or the criminal clemency of the chief governor, God sooner or later will take vengeance on such a person.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31, 32) Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer . . . The Israelites were not allowed to make terms with the relatives of the man who had been slain, as is not unfrequently the case at the present time; nor were they permitted to allow the man who had slain any one unintentionally to return home from the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, on the payment of a sum of money by way of compensation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. No satisfaction for a murderer In the LXX. the words “ satisfaction for the life” are almost exactly those used by Jesus Christ in Mat 20:28, “To give his life a ransom for many.” Human life is too sacred to be paid for in gold and silver. Without the shedding of blood there is no possible atonement for murder. The soul of the murdered man is the possession of God, and not of the avenger of blood; hence he is forbidden to accept ransom money. Imprisonment for life is not a sufficient expiation. Vers. 16-21, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 35:31. Ye shall take no satisfaction, &c. See Gen 9:6 and Lev 24:20. Lord Clarendon, upon this and the 33rd verse, observes, that there is no established government in Christendom where the pardon of murder is not against the law.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
no satisfaction = no ransom. Compare Psa 49:7. Only God can redeem (Num 35:15).
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
which is guilty of death = if he has unlawfully caused death: “guilty” being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6, for the crime which has caused it. Hebrew “wicked, to die”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Moreover: Gen 9:5, Gen 9:6, Exo 21:14, Deu 19:11-13, 2Sa 12:13, 1Ki 2:28-34, Psa 51:14
guilty of death: Heb. faulty to die
Reciprocal: Exo 21:12 – General Exo 21:23 – life for life Exo 21:30 – for the ransom Lev 24:17 – And he Deu 27:24 – General 2Sa 4:11 – require 2Sa 21:9 – before the Lord 2Ch 25:3 – he slew 2Ch 33:25 – slew Psa 51:16 – desirest Eze 16:38 – shed Eze 18:10 – a shedder Act 28:4 – a murderer
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
35:31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which [is] {m} guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
(m) Who purposely committed murder.