“The next-of-kin avenger is to put the murderer to death himself — upon meeting him, he is to put him to death.“-Numbers 35:19
Today we’re going to do a little word study of an important Torah concept introduced to us in verse 19 of Numbers 35.
In the Complete Jewish bible, the term used is “next-of-kin avenger“.
In the King James bible, the term used is “revenger of blood“.
The NIV translation is similar, it says “avenger of blood“.
However, let’s take a look at the original Hebrew.
I just consulted the official Orthodox Jewish Bible and the Hebrew word used is GO’EL HA DAHM.
Let’s break this phrase down.
First, the word DAHM (or “DAM” depending on how you want to transliterate it) means “blood“.
Most Bibles get that part right.
However, the word GA’AL (sometimes rendered as GO’EL) is usually translated as “avenger“.
To translate GA’AL or GO’EL as “avenger” isn’t necessarily wrong, but it ain’t 100% right either.
A more accurate translation of GA’AL would be to render it as “redeemer“.
Hence, the term GO’EL HA DAHM means the “Blood Redeemer“.
But again, having said that, “Blood Avenger” isn’t necessarily a bad translation.
And true to the words of this term, the job of the “Blood Redeemer“ or “Blood Avenger” was to find and avenge the murder of someone.
Who was that “someone”?
This brings us to another important meaning inherent in the term GA’AL HA DAHM.
The Blood Redeemer’s job was to avenge the death of a relative or a member of the slain person’s close family whether of the same tribe or clan.
I want to stress that this was NOT tradition.
This is God’s Law speaking here folks.
Now don’t get any crazy ideas from what I’ve just said.
I’m not saying if a violent crime has been done to one of your close family members to just go out, take the law in your own hands and Charles Bronson style blow somebody to bits with a 45 magnum.
No, but what I am saying is that the principle behind these Torah instructions stand…for all eternity.
True justice demands the death of the one who unjustly takes the life of an other.
Interestingly, once Israel started being ruled by kings like the gentile nations, they tried to put a stop to the DAM GA’AL instructions we’re studying here.
Why?
They were afraid of the chaos that would ensue if every man was allowed to take the law into his own hands and seek out vengeance on his own.
But that’s why the six cities of refuge were established.
So that one fleeing from a blood avenger could receive protection and a proper trial.
Nevertheless, it matters not what imperfect governments ruled by imperfect men decide to do.
The principle of a “life for a life” behind the concept of DAM GA’AL remains.
Also, do you remember we talked about the idea of a “Kinsman Redeemer” before?
The Kinsman Redeemer was a relative who came to the rescue when a family member had fallen on hard times financially and was about to lose his land inheritance.
The Kinsman Redeemer stepped in and provided the much needed funds to make sure that the land given to a certain Israelite remained with that Israelite.
Now, another very important obligation of a Kinsman Redeemer was to serve as a Blood Redeemer.
That’s right.
A Kinsman Redeemer wasn’t just a financial savior, he was also a ruthless blood avenger.
A lot of people don’t wanna accept that fact.
Everybody just wants to focus on the merciful and loving aspects of God’s character while deliberating turning a blind eye to His wrath and the fact He avenges.
Let’s not forget that the Messiah is also our GO’EL HA ADAHM.
He is our kinsman redeemer.
We’ll talk about that more the next time we meet.
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