We've been studying the six cities of refuge in Israel to which a person can flee to await trial when accused of murder. Yesterday we looked at some examples of a person causing the intentional death of another. Today we begin by looking at some examples of cases in which a person unintentionally causes the death of another.
"But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations." (Numbers 35:22-24) An accident could happen while a couple of guys are horsing around and one of them jokingly pushes his friend and the friend falls and strikes his head on the ground and dies. Or a person might push another out of the way of danger but the one who is pushed still receives a fatal injury. Or men might be constructing a stone building or wall and one of them could accidentally drop a stone from the top of the wall that strikes another worker passing by underneath. Men could be chopping wood or chiseling stone and the head of the tool could come loose from the handle, striking one of the men hard enough to cause his death. When cases like these are brought before the assembly, they are to be considered cases of accidental death, not premeditated murder.
The one called "the avenger of blood" is the dead person's next of kin who is bringing the lawsuit against the one who caused the death of his kinsman. The assembly must protect the accused person from the kinsman. The kinsman is not to be allowed to take the law into his own hands and avenge his relative's death except in cases, which we studied yesterday, where the accused has been found guilty of intentional murder. A person who is found not guilty of intentional murder is to dwell in the city of refuge until the current high priest dies. In fact, his safety is not insured if he does not remain in a city of refuge. "The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil." (Numbers 35:25) Even after found not guilty, the person must continue to reside within the borders of a city of refuge if he expects the assembly to protect him. I assume he can bring his family there and make a home and a living with them, but no one can guarantee his safety if he leaves the city of refuge. When the high priest dies who was present at his trial, the law is that no one is allowed to take vengeance against him anywhere he goes, so at that time he may leave the city of refuge and reside anywhere he pleases. Anyone who takes vengeance against him after the death of the high priest will be guilty of murder.
If the person decides not to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, he risks being killed by his accuser, and in that case the one who kills him will face no charges. "But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property. This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live." (Numbers 35:26-28)
If the death was accidental, why is the accused person's life allowed to be affected so much and for so long by this unintended tragedy? The Bible doesn't say but I think perhaps it's to impress upon people the sanctity of human life. Loving their neighbor as they love themselves means valuing the safety of their neighbor and valuing the life of their neighbor. It means not looking out only for their own interests but looking out for the interests of others as well. Even though death occurred accidentally in the examples we've studied today, consequences are still experienced by the person who unintentionally caused the death, and I think this is intended to press upon the people the seriousness of causing the loss of life. It's intended to make people be more careful, to ensure that they look out for the safety of those around them while working together or hunting together or fishing together or enjoying recreational activities together. It's intended to make people understand that the lives of others are just as important as their own lives and that each person's actions are capable of affecting not only themselves but everyone close to them. The Lord wants to prevent anyone from having the attitude that, "It's every man for himself," and instead wants everyone to realize, as the saying goes, "No man is an island". Everything you and I do can potentially affect someone else and that's why we have to value the feelings, the wellbeing, and the lives of everyone around us.
In cases where intentional murder took place, capital punishment could not be carried out unless the incident was witnessed by at least two persons. "Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness." (Numbers 35:30) This law will be repeated in Deuteronomy 17:6. Having such a law helps to prevent an innocent person from being put to death. The testimony of these witnesses must agree with each other. If one witness thinks the accused person intentionally caused the death of the deceased person but the other witness feels the incident appeared to be accidental, a guilty verdict cannot be arrived at. But if two or more witnesses recall the incident in the same manner and if, based on what they saw, they believe the accused person deliberately killed his fellow man, capital punishment can be carried out. However, the witnesses must be so certain of their testimony that they'd be willing to cast the first stone themselves. (Deuteronomy 17:7) This helps to prevent false or uncertain accusations, because unless a witness is so sure his fellow man is a murderer that he'd be willing to take part in his execution, he must not give testimony against him at trial.
No price is to be paid to ransom a convicted murderer or to ensure the safety of a person who leaves a city of refuge when he is supposed to live in a city of refuge until the death of the high priest. "Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death. Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest. Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites." (Numbers 35:31-34)
Later on in the Old Testament we'll find the Lord speaking harsh words against the perversions of justice taking place in the land. He will have a great deal to say against those who are accepting bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye toward crimes and sins. There is no amount of money that can erase the stain made by the shedding of innocent blood. There is no amount of money that can be paid to atone for sins. It's important for mankind to recognize guilt and sins, for in recognizing these things we are acknowledging that we are sinners in need of redemption. In acknowledging that we are sinners in need of redemption we are able to accept our need for the Redeemer---for the one whose blood is capable of cleansing us from guilt and shame, for the one whose blood is able to atone for sins that no amount of money or good works on our part could ever make right.
No comments:
Post a Comment