KJV ORIGINAL
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But if someone hates his neighbor and waits in hiding to attack him, and strikes him so hard that he dies, and then runs away to one of these cities:
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes someone who commits premeditated murder and then tries to escape punishment by fleeing to a city of refuge.
📚 Historical Context
Moses was establishing cities of refuge where people who accidentally killed someone could find safety from revenge. However, these cities were not meant to protect deliberate murderers. This verse begins explaining that premeditated murder would not be excused, even in these special sanctuary cities.
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