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 someone strikes another person with a wooden weapon that could kill, and the person dies, then the attacker is a murderer. That murderer must be put to death.
This verse establishes that if someone kills another person with any deadly wooden weapon, they are guilty of murder and must face the death penalty.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Numbers, God was providing detailed laws to the Israelites through Moses as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, including instructions on cities of refuge for accidental killings to prevent unjust revenge. This specific verse falls within a section outlining the differences between intentional murder and accidental death, emphasizing that deliberate acts with weapons like wood warranted severe punishment to maintain societal order. These laws reflected the cultural context of ancient Near Eastern societies, where blood feuds were common, and God's commands aimed to establish a just system based on His holiness.
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