9006. Verses 12-15 Anyone striking a man - and he dies - shall surely die. And one who did not lie in wait, and God caused it to happen at his hand - I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. And when a man acts from set purpose against his companion, to kill him with guile, you shall take him from My altar to die. And anyone striking his father and his mother shall surely die.

'Anyone striking a man - and he dies' means injury done to the truth of faith, and consequent loss of spiritual life. 'Shall surely die' means damnation. 'And one who did not lie in wait' means when it was not contemplated beforehand by the will. 'And God caused it to happen at his hand' means appearing as something happening by chance. 'I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee' means a state of blamelessness and so of freedom from punishment. 'And when a man acts from set purpose against his companion' means prior thought by a wicked will. 'To kill him with guile' means consequent malice ¹ intent on depriving the neighbour of eternal life. 'You shall take him from My altar to die' means damnation even though he flees to worship the Lord, pleads for forgiveness, and promises to repent. 'And anyone striking his father and his mother' means blaspheming the Lord and His kingdom. 'Shall surely die' means damnation.

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