AND OPEN LAND. The meaning of migrash (open land) is known.¹

footnotes: ¹ Hence there is no need to explain its meaning.

INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN. The meaning of artzah kena’an (into the land of Canaan) is known.² of artzah is in place of the preposition el. Thus artzah kena’an means into the land of Canaan. This chapter, like others,³ is connected.⁴

footnotes: ² The heh ³ Like other chapters which I.E. had previously pointed out. ⁴ To the chapter which precedes it.

THEN YE SHALL APPOINT YOU CITIES. The word ve-hikritem (then shall ye appoint you) is related to the word kiryah (cities).⁵, a wall. Kiryah is thus a walled city. Ve-hikritem lakhem arim thus means, and you shall build walled cities.

footnotes: ⁵ From the word kir

FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. This is not connected to the previous verse,⁶ for the preceding verse states that these cities will be cities of refuge. However, it does not state for whom they shall serve as cities of refuge. Scripture then explains⁷ that these six cities shall serve as cities of refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger…who lives among them.

footnotes: ⁶ Our verse is not a continuation of the previous verse. It is an independent clause. ⁷ In our verse.

WHEN HE MEETETH HIM. The feh of bi-figo (when he meeteth him) is vocalized with a chirik⁸. Compare shomoro, kotvo, etc. like the word shivri (I break) in when I break (Lev. 26:26), for vocalization changes in the infinitive.⁹

footnotes: ⁸ In place of a short kamatz ⁹ Not all infinitives follow the same vocalization.

AND IF HE THRUST HIM. From a high place.

OR HURLED AT HIM. An inclining wall¹⁰ or a deadly object.

footnotes: ¹⁰ Pushed the wall down upon him.

LYING IN WAIT. I have previously explained the meaning of bi-tzediyyah (lying in wait).¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ See I.E. on Ex. 21:13.

SUDDENLY. The meaning of be-feta is suddenly.¹². Hence I.E.’s comment.

footnotes: ¹² The usual word for suddenly is pitom

SEEING HIM NOT. Re’ot is an infinitive.

AND HE WAS NOT HIS ENEMY. He had no intention of seeking his harm.

THEREIN UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Some say that the meaning of until the death of is, until the investigation of.¹³ They compare it to And wisdom shall die with you (Job. 12:2).¹⁴ However, what they say is worthless. For And wisdom shall die with you means exactly what it says,¹⁵ means shall die, not shall search out. as does until the death of the high priest.¹⁶ For the high priest atones on behalf of Israel, and this incident happened during his lifetime.¹⁷

footnotes: ¹³ Until the high priest investigates the death of the victim. For other interpretations see Filwarg. ¹⁴ They render this, and with you is wisdom searched out. ¹⁵ Tamut ¹⁶ Which is to be taken literally. ¹⁷ Hence the murderer shall remain in the city of exile to remind the high priest of his failing. The high priest’s piety should have prevented the murder (see Rashi). Or, the murderer shall remain in exile to remind the high priest to pray constantly that God forgive Israel for the bloodshed in its midst.

THE BORDER OF HIS CITY. Et gevul means beyond¹⁸ the border.¹⁹ is usually not translated. Hence I.E. points out that here it means from. Compare, et ha-ir (out of the city) in as I am gone out of the city (Ex. 9:29).

footnotes: ¹⁸ Literally, from. ¹⁹ The word et

BLOODGUILTINESS. I have already explained the meaning of dam (bloodguiltiness).²⁰

footnotes: ²⁰ Our clause literally reads, he has no blood. Hence I.E. points out that blood means bloodshed. Thus our clause should be rendered, he is not guilty of bloodshed. See I.E. on Ex. 22:1.

SO YE SHALL NOT POLLUTE. Do evil in secret.

SHED IT. Shofkho (shed it) is a verb.²¹ (shedder) and the word shelo (its) Compare go’alo (his redeemer)²² (redeems) and shelo (him) (translated according to I.E.). in then shall his redeemer…come (Lev. 25:25).

footnotes: ²¹ Not a noun. It is made up of the verb shofekh ²² Which is a verb made up of the word go’el

AND THOU SHALT NOT DEFILE²³. Titamme can be rendered either as you shall defile or it shall defile. Hence the interpretations which follow. THE LAND. The pollution shall not defile the land.²⁴, it shall not defile. Or it is a command.²⁵, you shall not defile. The land shall not be polluted because I dwell among them.²⁶. I do not dwell there out of respect for the land but out of respect for the children of Israel. Therefore Scripture says, I the Lord dwell in the midst of the children of Israel (v. 34).

footnotes: ²³ Hebrew, titamme ²⁴ This interpretation renders ve-lo titamme ²⁵ This interpretation renders ve-lo titamme ²⁶ I.E.’s paraphrase of the Lord dwells in the midst of the children of Israel