Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 35 (Parashat Matot-Masei)

Bamidbar 35:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב עַל-יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ לֵאמֹר

.

Then God spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Moab, by the Jordan of Jericho directly.

Bamidbar 35:2

צַו אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנָתְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם מִנַּחֲלַת אֲחֻזָּתָם עָרִים לָשָׁבֶת וּמִגְרָשׁ לֶעָרִים סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם תִּתְּנוּ לַלְוִיִּם

. . .

Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites, from the inheritance of their possession, towns to dwell in, and open spaces for them round about them.

Bamidbar 35:3

וְהָיוּ הֶעָרִים לָהֶם לָשָׁבֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם יִהְיוּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם וְלִרְכֻשָׁם וּלְכֹל חַיָּתָם

. .

And the towns shall be a dwelling for them, and their open spaces shall be for their beasts and their flocks and the rest of their animals.

Bamidbar 35:4

וּמִגְרְשֵׁי הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ לַלְוִיִּם--מִקִּיר הָעִיר וָחוּצָה אֶלֶף אַמָּה סָבִיב

. . .

And the open spaces of the towns which you give to the Levites shall extend from outside the wall of the town one thousand cubits all around.

Bamidbar 35:5

וּמַדֹּתֶם מִחוּץ לָעִיר אֶת-פְּאַת-קֵדְמָה אַלְפַּיִם בָּאַמָּה וְאֶת-פְּאַת-נֶגֶב אַלְפַּיִם בָּאַמָּה וְאֶת-פְּאַת-יָם אַלְפַּיִם בָּאַמָּה וְאֵת פְּאַת צָפוֹן אַלְפַּיִם בָּאַמָּה--וְהָעִיר בַּתָּוֶךְ זֶה יִהְיֶה לָהֶם מִגְרְשֵׁי הֶעָרִים

. . . . . . .

Then measure from outside the town: toward the east two thousand cubits, and toward the south two thousand cubits, and toward the west two thousand cubits, and toward the north two thousand cubits — with the town in the midst of them. That shall be for you the measure of the open spaces of the towns.

Bamidbar 35:6

וְאֵת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ לַלְוִיִּם--אֵת שֵׁשׁ-עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ לָנֻס שָׁמָּה הָרֹצֵחַ וַעֲלֵיהֶם תִּתְּנוּ אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁתַּיִם עִיר

. . . . .

And the towns which you give to the Levites — among them shall be the six towns of refuge which you set apart, so that the killer may flee to them; and add to them forty-two towns.

Bamidbar 35:7

כָּל-הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ לַלְוִיִּם--אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה עִיר אֶתְהֶן וְאֶת-מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן

. .

So all the towns which you give shall be forty-eight towns, with their open spaces.

Bamidbar 35:8

וְהֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר תִּתְּנוּ מֵאֲחֻזַּת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל--מֵאֵת הָרַב תַּרְבּוּ וּמֵאֵת הַמְעַט תַּמְעִיטוּ אִישׁ כְּפִי נַחֲלָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר יִנְחָלוּ יִתֵּן מֵעָרָיו לַלְוִיִּם

. . . .

And the towns which you give from the possession of the sons of Israel — from him who took much, give more; and from him who took little, give less; each tribe shall give according to the measure of its inheritance.

Bamidbar 35:9

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 35:10

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּי אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן

. . .

Command the sons of Israel, and say to them: When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

Bamidbar 35:11

וְהִקְרִיתֶם לָכֶם עָרִים עָרֵי מִקְלָט תִּהְיֶינָה לָכֶם וְנָס שָׁמָּה רֹצֵחַ מַכֵּה-נֶפֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָה

. .

then designate for yourselves towns of refuge, so that any killer who has slain a person unintentionally may flee to them.

Bamidbar 35:12

וְהָיוּ לָכֶם הֶעָרִים לְמִקְלָט מִגֹּאֵל וְלֹא יָמוּת הָרֹצֵחַ עַד-עָמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה לַמִּשְׁפָּט

. . . .

And those towns shall be a protection from the blood-avenger; and he shall not be killed until he has stood before the assembly, that they may judge him in this matter.

Bamidbar 35:13

וְהֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר תִּתֵּנוּ--שֵׁשׁ-עָרֵי מִקְלָט תִּהְיֶינָה לָכֶם

.

And the towns which you set apart — six towns of refuge shall they be for you.

Bamidbar 35:14

אֵת שְׁלֹשׁ הֶעָרִים תִּתְּנוּ מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן וְאֵת שְׁלֹשׁ הֶעָרִים תִּתְּנוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן עָרֵי מִקְלָט תִּהְיֶינָה

. .

Three of them shall be across the Jordan, and three of them shall be in the land of Canaan — they shall be towns of refuge.

Bamidbar 35:15

לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלַגֵּר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב בְּתוֹכָם תִּהְיֶינָה שֵׁשׁ-הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה לְמִקְלָט--לָנוּס שָׁמָּה כָּל-מַכֵּה-נֶפֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָה

. . .

For the sons of Israel and for the stranger and for the guest who has entered among them — every one who has slain a person unintentionally may flee to them.

Bamidbar 35:16

וְאִם-בִּכְלִי בַרְזֶל הִכָּהוּ וַיָּמֹת רֹצֵחַ הוּא מוֹת יוּמַת הָרֹצֵחַ

.

But if he struck him with an iron implement and killed him, he is a killer who deserves to be put to death.

Bamidbar 35:17

וְאִם בְּאֶבֶן יָד אֲשֶׁר-יָמוּת בָּהּ הִכָּהוּ וַיָּמֹת--רֹצֵחַ הוּא מוֹת יוּמַת הָרֹצֵחַ

. .

Or if he struck him with a stone held in the hand, of a size sufficient to cause death, and killed him, he is a killer who deserves to be put to death.

Bamidbar 35:18

אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ-יָד אֲשֶׁר-יָמוּת בּוֹ הִכָּהוּ וַיָּמֹת--רֹצֵחַ הוּא מוֹת יוּמַת הָרֹצֵחַ

.

Or if he struck him with a wooden implement held in the hand, of a size sufficient to cause death, and killed him, he is a killer who deserves to be put to death.

Bamidbar 35:19

גֹּאֵל הַדָּם הוּא יָמִית אֶת-הָרֹצֵחַ בְּפִגְעוֹ-בוֹ הוּא יְמִתֶנּוּ

The blood-avenger — he shall put him to death when he encounters him, rightfully.

Bamidbar 35:20

וְאִם-בְּשִׂנְאָה יֶהְדֳּפֶנּוּ אוֹ-הִשְׁלִיךְ עָלָיו בִּצְדִיָּה וַיָּמֹת

. .

And if he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled something at him deliberately, and killed him,

Bamidbar 35:21

אוֹ בְאֵיבָה הִכָּהוּ בְיָדוֹ וַיָּמֹת--מוֹת-יוּמַת הַמַּכֶּה רֹצֵחַ הוּא גֹּאֵל הַדָּם יָמִית אֶת-הָרֹצֵחַ--בְּפִגְעוֹ-בוֹ

. .

or struck him with his hand out of enmity and killed him — then the striker shall surely be put to death, for he is a killer; the blood-avenger shall put him to death when he encounters him, rightfully.

Bamidbar 35:22

וְאִם-בְּפֶתַע בְּלֹא-אֵיבָה הֲדָפוֹ אוֹ-הִשְׁלִיךְ עָלָיו כָּל-כְּלִי בְּלֹא צְדִיָּה

. .

But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or threw any implement at him without intent,

Bamidbar 35:23

אוֹ בְכָל-אֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר-יָמוּת בָּהּ בְּלֹא רְאוֹת וַיַּפֵּל עָלָיו וַיָּמֹת--וְהוּא לֹא-אוֹיֵב לוֹ וְלֹא מְבַקֵּשׁ רָעָתוֹ

. . .

or dropped upon him any stone — without intent — and he died, and he was not his enemy and was not seeking his harm,

Bamidbar 35:24

וְשָׁפְטוּ הָעֵדָה בֵּין הַמַּכֶּה וּבֵין גֹּאֵל הַדָּם--עַל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה

. .

then the assembly shall judge between the killer and the blood-avenger, according to these ordinances.

Bamidbar 35:25

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

. . . . .

And the assembly shall deliver this killer from the hand of the blood-avenger, and shall return him to the town of refuge to which he fled; and he shall remain there until the death of the great imām who was anointed with the oil of holiness.

Bamidbar 35:26

וְאִם-יָצֹא יֵצֵא הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת-גְּבוּל עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָנוּס שָׁמָּה

.

But if he goes out beyond the boundary of the town of refuge to which he fled,

Bamidbar 35:27

וּמָצָא אֹתוֹ גֹּאֵל הַדָּם מִחוּץ לִגְבוּל עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ וְרָצַח גֹּאֵל הַדָּם אֶת-הָרֹצֵחַ--אֵין לוֹ דָּם

. . .

and the blood-avenger finds him outside the boundary of the town of refuge and kills him — there is no vengeance for him.

Bamidbar 35:28

כִּי בְעִיר מִקְלָטוֹ יֵשֵׁב עַד-מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל וְאַחֲרֵי מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל--יָשׁוּב הָרֹצֵחַ אֶל-אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתוֹ

. . .

Rather, he must stay in the town of refuge until the death of the great imām; and after his death he may return to the land of his possession.

Bamidbar 35:29

וְהָיוּ אֵלֶּה לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת מִשְׁפָּט לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם בְּכֹל מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם

And these shall be ordinances for you throughout the passing of your generations, in all your dwellings.

Bamidbar 35:30

כָּל-מַכֵּה-נֶפֶשׁ--לְפִי עֵדִים יִרְצַח אֶת-הָרֹצֵחַ וְעֵד אֶחָד לֹא-יַעֲנֶה בְנֶפֶשׁ לָמוּת

. .

Every one who has slain a person intentionally — by the word of two witnesses put him to death; but a single witness shall not testify against him so that he be put to death.

Bamidbar 35:31

וְלֹא-תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לְנֶפֶשׁ רֹצֵחַ אֲשֶׁר-הוּא רָשָׁע לָמוּת כִּי-מוֹת יוּמָת

. .

And you shall not accept blood-money as ransom for the life of a killer who is liable to be put to death — he shall surely be put to death.

Bamidbar 35:32

וְלֹא-תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לָנוּס אֶל-עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ לָשׁוּב לָשֶׁבֶת בָּאָרֶץ עַד-מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן

. . .

Nor shall you accept from him blood-money to allow him to flee to one of the towns of refuge, so that he may return and dwell in the land after the death of the imām.

Bamidbar 35:33

וְלֹא-תַחֲנִיפוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם בָּהּ כִּי הַדָּם הוּא יַחֲנִיף אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וְלָאָרֶץ לֹא-יְכֻפַּר לַדָּם אֲשֶׁר שֻׁפַּךְ-בָּהּ כִּי-אִם בְּדַם שֹׁפְכוֹ

. . . .

And you shall not defile the land in which you are; for blood defiles it, and atonement cannot be made for you concerning the blood that was shed in it, except by the blood of him who shed it.

Bamidbar 35:34

וְלֹא תְטַמֵּא אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ--אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה--שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . . . .

And you shall not make impure the land in which you are dwelling, in which My light dwells — for I am God, My light dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.