Positive Commandment #484 of 613
The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge
Commandment #484 — a positive obligation from Numbers 35:25, classified under Courts, Crimes, and Punishments in the 613 commandments of the Torah.
Scripture
“'The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.”
— Numbers 35:25
Hebrew
כה וְהִצִּילוּ הָעֵדָה אֶת-הָרֹצֵחַ, מִיַּד גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, וְהֵשִׁיבוּ אֹתוֹ הָעֵדָה, אֶל-עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ אֲשֶׁר-נָס שָׁמָּה; וְיָשַׁב בָּהּ, עַד-מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל, אֲשֶׁר-מָשַׁח אֹתוֹ, בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּדֶשׁ.
Greek (Septuagint)
25 καὶ ἐξελεῖται ἡ συναγωγὴ τὸν φονεύσαντα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα, καὶ ἀποκαταστήσουσιν αὐτὸν ἡ συναγωγὴ εἰς τὴν πόλιν τοῦ φυγαδευτηρίου αὐτοῦ, οὗ κατέφυγεν, καὶ κατοικήσει ἐκεῖ, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, ὃν ἔχρισαν αὐτὸν τῷ ἐλαίῳ τῷ ἁγίῳ.
Classification
- Type
- Positive (Thou Shalt)
- Category
- Courts, Crimes, and Punishments
- Book
- numbers
- Chapter
- 35
Scholarly References
- Parashah
- Masei
- Sefer HaChinuch
- #410
- Mishneh Torah
- InjuriesA Murder and the Preservation of Life
Related Commandments in “Courts, Crimes, and Punishments”
#131: The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden
Exodus 22:16
#464: The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating
Exodus 22:5
#465: The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit
Exodus 21:33
#466: The court must judge the damages incurred by fire
Exodus 22:6
#468: The court must implement punitive measures against a thief
Exodus 22:1
#469: Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate
Leviticus 19:36
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