Positive Commandment 225 (Digest)
Exiling an Inadvertent Murderer to a City of Refuge
"And he shall live there until the death of the high priest"—Numbers 35:25.
The courts are commanded to exile a person guilty of manslaughter to a city of refuge. The killer must remain there [until the death of the serving high priest]: "There he must dwell, there he shall die, there he shall be buried."
The 225th mitzvah is that we are commanded to exile a person who has killed another unintentionally from his city to one of the refuge cities.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "[The killer] must live there until the death of the kohen gadol."
In the words of the Sifri, "In the phrase '[The killer] must live there,' the word 'there' means he may never leave there. There he shall live, there he shall die, and there he shall be buried."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Makkos.
Negative Commandment 296 (Digest)
Accepting a Ransom from an Inadvertent Murderer
"You shall take no ransom from one who must flee to his city of refuge"—Numbers 35:32.
It is forbidden to take a monetary payment from a person guilty of manslaughter to exempt him from exile in a city of refuge.
The 296th prohibition is that we are forbidden from taking ransom money to spare from exile one who has committed murder unintentionally. Rather, he must be exiled.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "If one has fled to a refuge city, do not take ransom [to allow him to return and live in the land...]"
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Makkos.
Negative Commandment 292 (Digest)
Executing a Criminal before he Stands Trial
"The murderer shall not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment"—Numbers 35:12.
It is forbidden to execute a criminal guilty of committing a capital crime before he receives due process before a rabbinical court. (This prohibition applies after the crime was committed. With regard to a criminal in the process of executing a crime, see Negative Commandment 293.)
Even if the members of the High Court witness the execution of a capital offense, they must serve as witnesses (before another panel of judges) who will adjudicate the case.
The 292nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from killing someone who has already done something punishable by death before he is brought to High Court. Rather, we must bring him to High Court and present the evidence against him. We must be only witnesses [not judges], and they will determine his guilt.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "The murderer shall not die until he stands before the court in judgment."
In the words of the Mechilta, "One might think that [the witnesses] may kill the person after he has committed murder or adultery. The Torah therefore says, 'The murderer shall not die until he stands ...' " Even if the Great Sanhedrin saw him commit the murder, they may only be witnesses and testify before another court [rather than themselves act as judges]; and that court will execute him.
The Mechilta also says, "In a case where a court saw a person commit murder, you might think that they may execute him even before he is judged. The Torah therefore says, 'The murderer shall not die until he stands before the court in judgment.' "
Note About Varying Customs
In some editions of the Sefer Hamitzvot Schedule, today's Sefer Hamitzvot (Day 259) has Negative Mitzvah 295 listed instead of Negative Mitzvah 296 (and Day 258 has Negative Mitzvah 296 instead of 295).
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