But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
But if the wronged person has no relative to receive the payment for the wrong that was done, then the payment should be given to the LORD by giving it to the priest. This is in addition to the ram that must be sacrificed to make things right with God.
This verse explains that when someone wrongs another person who has no family to receive compensation, the payment should go to God through the priest, along with a sacrifice for forgiveness.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of the Israelite wanderings in the wilderness, the Book of Numbers records laws given by God through Moses to maintain purity and justice in the community. This verse specifically addresses situations where a person must make restitution for a sin, such as theft or harm, but the wronged party has no living relatives to receive it; in such cases, the payment is directed to the priest as an offering to the Lord. This practice ensured that atonement was still achieved through a sacrificial system, emphasizing God's role in upholding justice when human channels were unavailable.
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