Chapter 35

1The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel that they shall give to the Levites from their hereditary possession cities in which to dwell, and you shall give the Levites open spaces around the cities.   בצַו֘ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָֽתְנ֣וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם מִנַּֽחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
open spaces. Empty belts of land surrounding each city, so as to beautify the city. It was forbidden to build a house, plant a vineyard or sow seed there. — [Arachin 33b]   וּמִגְרָשׁ.  רֶוַח מָקוֹם חָלָק חוּץ לָעִיר סָבִיב, לִהְיוֹת לְנוֹי לָעִיר, וְאֵין רַשָּׁאִין לִבְנוֹת שָׁם בַּיִת וְלֹא לִנְטֹעַ כֶּרֶם וְלֹא לִזְרֹעַ זְרִיעָה:
3These cities shall be theirs for dwelling, and their open spaces shall be for their cattle, their property, and for all their needs.   גוְהָי֧וּ הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לָהֶ֖ם לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם יִֽהְי֤וּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיָּתָֽם:
and for all their needs. Heb. חַיָּתָם, for their personal necessities. — [Ned. 81a]   וּלְכֹל חַיָּתָֽם.  לְכָל צָרְכֵּיהֶם:
4The areas of open space for the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward, one thousand cubits all around.   דוּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֑ם מִקִּ֤יר הָעִיר֙ וָח֔וּצָה אֶ֥לֶף אַמָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב:
one thousand cubits all around. Yet following this it says,“two thousand cubits”? How can this be? However, He assigned two thousand for them around the city, of which the inner thousand was for open area and the outer [thousand] for fields and vineyards. — [Sotah 27b]   אֶלֶף אַמָּה סָבִֽיב.  וְאַחֲרָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה, הָא כֵיצַד? אַלְפַּיִם הוּא נוֹתֵן לָהֶם סָבִיב, וּמֵהֶם אֶלֶף הַפְּנִימִיִּים לְמִגְרָשׁ וְהַחִיצוֹנִים לְשָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים:
5You shall measure from outside the city, two thousand cubits on the eastern side, two thousand cubits on the southern side, two thousand cubits on the western side, and two thousand cubits on the northern side, with the city in the middle; this shall be your cities' open spaces.   הוּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֗יר אֶת־פְּאַת־קֵ֣דְמָה אַלְפַּ֪יִם בָּֽאַ֠מָּ֩ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־נֶ֩גֶב֩ אַלְפַּ֨יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֜ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־יָ֣ם | אַלְפַּ֣יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֗ה וְאֵ֨ת פְּאַ֥ת צָפ֛וֹן אַלְפַּ֥יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֖ה וְהָעִ֣יר בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ זֶ֚ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מִגְרְשֵׁ֖י הֶֽעָרִֽים:
6Among the cities you shall give to the Levites, shall be six cities of refuge, which you shall provide [as places] to which a murderer can flee. In addition to them, you shall provide forty two cities.   ווְאֵ֣ת הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אֵ֚ת שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתְּנ֔וּ לָנֻ֥ס שָׁ֖מָּה הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וַֽעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם תִּתְּנ֔וּ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם עִֽיר:
7All the cities you shall give to the Levites shall number forty eight cities, them with their open spaces.   זכָּל־הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה עִ֑יר אֶתְהֶ֖ן וְאֶת־מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן:
8And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the children of Israel, you shall take more from a larger [holding] and you shall take less from a smaller one. Each one, according to the inheritance allotted to him, shall give of his cities to the Levites.   חוְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵֽאֲחֻזַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֤ת הָרַב֙ תַּרְבּ֔וּ וּמֵאֵ֥ת הַמְעַ֖ט תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ אִ֗ישׁ כְּפִ֤י נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִנְחָ֔לוּ יִתֵּ֥ן מֵֽעָרָ֖יו לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
9The Lord spoke to Moses saying:   טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
10Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan to the land of Canaan,   ידַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹֽבְרִ֥ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
11you shall designate cities for yourselves; they shall be cities of refuge for you, and a murderer who killed a person unintentionally shall flee there.   יאוְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ עָרִ֔ים עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָ֥ס שָׁ֨מָּה֙ רֹצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
you shall designate. [The expression] הַקְרָיָה can mean only preparation, as it says, “Because the Lord, your God, prepared it (הִקְרָה) before me” (Gen. 27:20) - [Sifrei Massei 3, Targum Onkelos].   וְהִקְרִיתֶם.  אֵין הַקְרָיָה אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הַזְמָנָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "כִּי הִקְרָה ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנָי" (בראשית כ"ז):
12These cities shall serve you as a refuge from an avenger, so that the murderer shall not die until he stands in judgment before the congregation.   יבוְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֧ם הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לְמִקְלָ֖ט מִגֹּאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א יָמוּת֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ עַד־עָמְד֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט:
from an avenger. From the avenger of the blood, a kinsman of the murder victim. — [Mak. 12a]   מִגֹּאֵל.  מִפְּנֵי גּוֹאֵל הַדָּם, שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לַנִּרְצָח:
13The cities that you provide shall serve as six cities of refuge for you.   יגוְהֶֽעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑נוּ שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֥ינָה לָכֶֽם:
six cities of refuge. [This] informs [us] that even though Moses designated three cities across the Jordan during his lifetime, they did not provide refuge until the three provided by Joshua in the land of Canaan were designated. — [Sifrei Massei 8, Mak. 9a]   שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵי מִקְלָט.  מַגִּיד שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִבְדִּיל מֹשֶׁה בְּחַיָּיו שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, לֹא הָיוּ קוֹלְטוֹת עַד שֶׁנִּבְחֲרוּ שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁנָּתַן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן (ספרי; מכות ט'):
14You shall provide the three cities in trans Jordan and the three cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.   ידאֵ֣ת | שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֗ים תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְאֵת֙ שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים תִּתְּנ֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶֽינָה:
the three cities. Although there were nine tribes in the land of Canaan, and here [across the Jordan] there were only two-and-a-half, He equalized the number of their refuge cities, because Gilead had many murderers, as it says, “Gilead, a city of workers of violence, who lurk to shed blood” (Hos. 6: 8). - [Mak. 10a, Sifrei Massei 6]   אֵת שְׁלשׁ הֶֽעָרִים וגו'.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן תִּשְׁעָה שְׁבָטִים וְכָאן אֵינָן אֶלָּא שְׁנַיִם וָחֵצִי, הִשְׁוָה מִנְיַן עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט שֶׁלָּהֶם, מִשּׁוּם דִּבְגִלְעָד נְפִישֵׁי רוֹצְחִים, דִּכְתִיב (הושע ו') "גִּלְעָד קִרְיַת פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן עֲקֻבָּה מִדָּם" (שם):
15These six cities shall be a refuge for the children of Israel and for the proselyte and resident among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills a person can flee there.   טולִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּֽהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵֽׁשׁ־הֶֽעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
16If he struck him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   טזוְאִם־בִּכְלִ֨י בַרְזֶ֧ל | הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
If he struck him with an iron instrument. This does not refer to accidental manslaughter discussed nearby, but to premeditated murder, and it teaches us that the implement of murder has to be big enough to cause death, for regarding all the [other] cases it says, אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בָּה, “which is deadly,” and the Targum [Onkelos] renders, “of a size capable of causing death,” except in the case of iron, since it is evident and known to the Holy One, blessed is He, that a small piece of iron can kill, even a needle (Sifrei Massei 6, Sanh. 76b). That is why [in the case of iron] the Torah did not specify a size and write “which is deadly.” If you say that Scripture refers to one who murders unintentionally, [this cannot be because], below it says, “or, with any stone which is deadly, and without seeing [his victim]…” (verse 23). This shows that in the cases mentioned before it, Scripture speaks of one who murders with intent.   וְאִם־בִּכְלִי בַרְזֶל הִכָּהוּ.  אֵין זֶה מְדַבֵּר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַסָּמוּךְ לוֹ, אֶלָּא בְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד, וּבָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַהוֹרֵג בְּכָל דָּבָר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּהֵא בוֹ שִׁעוּר כְּדֵי לְהָמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּכֻלָּם "אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ", דִּמְתַּרְגְּמִינַן "דְּהִיא כְמִסַּת דִּימוּת בֵּיהּ", חוּץ מִן הַבַּרְזֶל, שֶׁגָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהַבַּרְזֶל מֵמִית בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, אֲפִלּוּ מַחַט, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא נָתְנָה בוֹ תּוֹרָה שִׁעוּר לִכְתֹּב בּוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ; וְאִם תֹּאמַר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר לְמַטָּה אוֹ בכל אבן אשר ימות בה בלא ראות וְגוֹ', לִמֵּד עַל הָאֲמוּרִים לְמַעְלָה שֶׁבְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
17If he struck him with a fist sized stone which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   יזוְאִ֡ם בְּאֶ֣בֶן יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בָּ֥הּ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
with a fist-sized stone. [A stone] large enough to fill a hand. — [Onkelos]   בְּאֶבֶן יָד.  שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ מְלֹא יָד (ספרי):
which is deadly. Which is large enough to cause death, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders. Since it [Scripture] says, “If one of them strikes the other with a stone” (Exod. 21:18), but it does not specify a size, I might think any size? Therefore it says, “which is deadly” - [Sifrei Massei 10]   אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ.  שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שִׁעוּר לְהָמִית, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהִכָּה אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ בְּאֶבֶן" (שמות כ"א), וְלֹא נָתַן בָּהּ שִׁעוּר, יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אשר ימות בה:
18Or with a fist sized wooden instrument which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   יחא֡וֹ בִּכְלִ֣י עֵץ־יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בּ֥וֹ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
or with a fist-sized wooden instrument. Since it says, “If a man strikes his manservant or his maidservant with a rod” (Exod. 21:20), I might think any size? That is why with regard to wood it says, “which is deadly”-it must be a size capable of causing death. — [Sifrei Massei 11]   אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ־יָד.  לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וְכִי יַכֶּה אִישׁ אֶת עַבְדּוֹ אוֹ אֶת אֲמָתוֹ בַּשֵּׁבֶט", יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בְּעֵץ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ" — שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ כְּדֵי לְהָמִית (ספרי):
19The blood avenger shall kill the murderer; he may kill him when he meets him.   יטגֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יָמִ֖ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ ה֥וּא יְמִתֶֽנּוּ:
when he meets him. Even in the cities of refuge.   בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ.  אֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ עָרֵי מִקְלָט:
20If, out of hatred, he pushed him, or threw something at him with premeditation, and he died,   כוְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדֳּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת:
with premeditation. As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, בְּכַמְנָא, with ambush.   בִּצְדִיָּה.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, "בְּכָמְנָא" — בְּמַאֲרָב:
21or if he maliciously struck him with his hand and he died, the assailant shall be put to death; he is a murderer; the blood avenger may kill the murderer when he meets him.   כאא֣וֹ בְאֵיבָ֞ה הִכָּ֤הוּ בְיָדוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַמַּכֶּ֖ה רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֗ם יָמִ֛ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־בֽוֹ:
22But if he pushed him accidentally, without malice, or threw an object at him without premeditation,   כבוְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹֽא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה:
accidentally. Heb. בְּפֶתַע, by accident, but the Targum renders בִּתְכֵף, “suddenly,” [meaning] that he was next to him and he had no time to take precautions against [killing] him.   בְּפֶתַע.  בְּאֹנֶס, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "בִּתְכֵיף", שֶׁהָיָה סָמוּךְ לוֹ וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ שָׁהוּת לְהִזָּהֵר עָלָיו:
23or, with any stone which is deadly, and without seeing [his victim] he threw it down at him and it killed him, but he was not his enemy and bore him no malice   כגא֣וֹ בְכָל־אֶ֜בֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֥וּת בָּהּ֙ בְּלֹ֣א רְא֔וֹת וַיַּפֵּ֥ל עָלָ֖יו וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהוּא֙ לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָֽעָתֽוֹ:
or, with any stone which is deadly. he struck him.   אוֹ בְכָל־אֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ.  הִכָּהוּ:
without seeing. He did not see him [while striking him].   בְּלֹא רְאוֹת.  שֶׁלֹּא רָאָהוּ:
he threw it down at him. From here they said that the one who kills by way of a falling action is exiled, but if [he kills] by means of an upward action is not exiled. — [Mak. 7b]   וַיַּפֵּל עָלָיו.  מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הַהוֹרֵג דֶּרֶךְ יְרִידָה גּוֹלֶה, דֶּרֶךְ עֲלִיָּה אֵינוֹ גוֹלֶה (מכות ז:):
24Then the congregation shall judge between the assailant and the blood avenger, on the basis of these judgments.   כדוְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין הַמַּכֶּ֔ה וּבֵ֖ין גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֑ם עַ֥ל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
25The congregation shall protect the murderer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall remain there until the Kohen Gadol, who anointed him with the sacred oil, dies.   כהוְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָֽעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֘ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־עִ֥יר מִקְלָט֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
until the kohen gadol… dies. For he causes the Divine Presence to rest upon Israel and thus prolong their lives, whereas the murderer causes the Divine Presence to withdraw from Israel and thus shorten their lives. He is not worthy of standing before the Kohen Gadol [Sifrei Massei 20]. Another interpretation: Because the Kohen Gadol should have prayed that such a misfortune should not befall Israel during his lifetime [Mak. 11a].   עַד־מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הגדול.  שֶׁהוּא בָא לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְהַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם, וְהָרוֹצֵחַ בָּא לְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וּמְקַצֵּר אֶת יְמֵי הַחַיִּים, אֵינוֹ כְדַאי שֶׁיְּהֵא לִפְנֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (ספרי); דָּבָר אַחֵר — לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁלֹּא תֶאֱרַע תַּקָּלָה זוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחַיָּיו (עי' מכות י"א):
who anointed him with the sacred oil. According to the literal meaning, this is one of the elliptical verses [in Scripture], as it does not reveal who anointed him; thus, it is like saying, “who was anointed by the one who anointed him with the sacred oil.” Our Rabbis expounded it in Tractate Makkoth (11b) as a verification of the law, to teach that if before sentence was passed, the Kohen Gadol died and they appointed another one in his stead, and afterwards sentence was passed, he [the murderer] can return home only after the second one has died, as it says, “who anointed him.” Did he anoint the kohen, or did the kohen anoint him? However, this includes the [case of a high kohen who was] anointed in his days [and thus, it is as if he had anointed the Kohen Gadol, so to speak], that he frees him through his death.   אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁח אותו בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ.  לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת הַקְּצָרִים הוּא, שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי מְשָׁחוֹ, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ אֲשֶׁר מְשָׁחוֹ הַמּוֹשֵׁחַ אוֹתוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּדֶשׁ; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְרָשׁוּהוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת מַכּוֹת (שם) לִרְאָיַת דָּבָר, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ מֵת הַכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּמִנּוּ אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו, וּלְאַחַר מִכָּאן נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ, חוֹזֵר בְּמִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אשר משח אתו, וְכִי הוּא מוֹשְׁחוֹ לַכֹּהֵן אוֹ הַכֹּהֵן מָשַׁח אוֹתוֹ? אֶלָּא לְהָבִיא אֶת הַנִּמְשָׁח בְּיָמָיו שֶׁמַּחֲזִירוֹ בְּמִיתָתוֹ:
26But if the murderer goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he had fled,   כווְאִם־יָצֹ֥א יֵצֵ֖א הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ אֶת־גְּבוּל֙ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה:
27and the blood avenger finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger slays the murderer, he has no blood.   כזוּמָצָ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם מִח֕וּץ לִגְב֖וּל עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּֽם:
he has no blood. He is like one who kills a dead person, who has no blood.   אֵין לוֹ דָּֽם.  הֲרֵי הוּא כְּהוֹרֵג אֶת הַמֵּת, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ דָּם:
28For he shall remain in his city of refuge until the Kohen Gadol dies, and only after the Kohen Gadol has died, may the murderer return to the land which is his possession.   כחכִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטוֹ֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַֽחֲרֵי־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
29These shall be for you a statute of justice for all your generations, in all your dwelling places.   כטוְהָי֨וּ אֵ֧לֶּה לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
in all your dwelling places. This teaches that the minor Sanhedrin functions outside the Land as long as there is one functioning in the Land of Israel [namely, while the Temple stood]. — [Mak. 7a, Sifrei Massei 25]   בְּכֹל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם.  לִמֵּד שֶׁתְּהֵא סַנְהֶדְרִין קְטַנָּה נוֹהֶגֶת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁנּוֹהֶגֶת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (מכות ז'):
30Whoever [namely the blood avenger] kills a person, based on the testimony of witnesses, he shall slay the murderer. A single witness may not testify against a person so that he should die.   לכָּל־מַ֨כֵּה־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְפִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ֖ח אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וְעֵ֣ד אֶחָ֔ד לֹא־יַֽעֲנֶ֥ה בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ לָמֽוּת:
Whoever kills a person…. The one who comes to kill him because he murdered someone.   כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ וגו'.  הַבָּא לְהָרְגוֹ עַל שֶׁהִכָּה אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ (עי' ספרי):
based on the testimony of witnesses. who testify that he murdered him intentionally, after he had been forewarned. [I.e., the blood avenger may not slay the murderer unless there are witnesses that he committed the murder.]- [Sifrei Massei 26]   לְפִי עֵדִים יִרְצַח.  שֶׁיָּעִידוּ שֶׁבְּמֵזִיד וּבְהַתְרָאָה הֲרָגוֹ:
31You shall not accept ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, for he shall be put to death.   לאוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֥וּ כֹ֨פֶר֙ לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ רֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא רָשָׁ֖ע לָמ֑וּת כִּי־מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת:
You shall not accept ransom. He cannot be acquitted in exchange for payment. — [Keth. 37b]   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר.  לֹא יִפָּטֵר בְּמָמוֹן (כתובות ל"ז):
32You shall not accept ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, to allow him to return to live in the Land, before the kohen has died.   לבוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֣וּ כֹ֔פֶר לָנ֖וּס אֶל־עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵֽן:
You shall not accept ransom for the one who has fled to his city of refuge. One who has fled to a city of refuge after he killed someone unintentionally cannot absolve himself from exile through payment by giving a ransom so that he can return to dwell in the Land before the kohen dies. — [Keth. 37b]   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לָנוּס אֶל־עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ.  לְמִי שֶׁנָּס אֶל עִיר מִקְלָט, שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג, אֵינוֹ נִפְטָר מִגָּלוּת בְּמָמוֹן, לִתֵּן כֹּפֶר לשוב לשבת בארץ טֶרֶם יָמוּת הַכֹּהֵן (שם):
has fled. Heb. לָנוּס, is equivalent to לְנָס, “for the one who has fled.” Similarly, “those who returned (שׁוּבֵי) from the war” (Mich. 2:8). Similarly, “Those who are removed (נוּגֵי) from the appointed season” (Zeph. 3:18); “for [all the people…] were circumcised (מֻלִים)” (Josh. 5:5). Just as you say שׁוּב in reference to one who has already returned, and מוּל regarding one who is already circumcised, so will you say לָנוּס for one who has already fled. He is called נוּס, that is to say, ‘an escapee.’ If you say that לָנוּס means ‘to flee,’ and explain it thus: You shall not accept ransom for who must flee, in order to absolve him from exile, then I do not know how it can say, “to return to live in the Land” for if he has not yet fled, from where should he return?   לָנוּס.  כְּמוֹ לַנָּס, כְּמוֹ "שׁוּבֵי מִלְחָמָה" (מיכה ב') — שֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה, וְכֵן "נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד" (צפניה ג'), וְכֵן "כִּי מֻלִים הָיוּ" (יהושע ה'); כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר שׁוּב עַל מִי שֶׁשָּׁב כְּבָר, וּמוּל עַל שֶׁמָּל כְּבָר, כֵּן תֹּאמַר לָנוּס עַל מִי שֶׁנָּס כְּבָר, וְקוֹרֵהוּ נוּס, כְּלוֹמַר מֻבְרָח. וְאִם תֹּאמַר לָנוּס — לִבְרֹחַ, וּתְפָרְשֵׁהוּ לֹא תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לְמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לִבְרֹחַ לְפָטְרוֹ מִן הַגָּלוּת (עי' ספרי), לֹא יָדַעְתִּי הֵיאַךְ יֹאמַר לָשׁוּב לָשֶׁבֶת בָּאָרֶץ, הֲרֵי עֲדַיִן לֹא נָס, וּמֵהֵיכָן יָשׁוּב?:
33And you shall not corrupt the land in which you live, for the blood corrupts the land, and the blood which is shed in the land cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the one who shed it.   לגוְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַֽחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־בָּ֔הּ כִּי־אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹֽׁפְכֽוֹ:
And you shall not corrupt. Heb. ולֹא-תַחֲנִיפוּ, you shall not cause it to be wicked, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, לֹא תְחַיְבוּן, you shall not make sinful."   וְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִיפוּ.  לֹא תַרְשִׁיעוּ, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — "וְלָא תְחַיְבוּן":
34And you shall not defile the land where you reside, in which I dwell, for I am the Lord Who dwells among the children of Israel.   לדוְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֽשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
in which I dwell. You should not cause me to dwell amidst its uncleanness.   אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ.  שֶׁלֹּא תַשְׁכִּינוּ אוֹתִי בְטֻמְאָתָהּ:
for I am the Lord who dwells among the children of Israel. Even when they are unclean, the Divine Presence resides with them. — [Sifrei Massei 32]   כִּי אֲנִי ה' שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל.  אַף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵם טְמֵאִים שְׁכִינָה בֵינֵיהֶם (ספרי):