[21:12] 1 sn The underlying point of this section remains vital today: The people of God must treat all human life as sacred.
[21:12] 2 tn The construction uses a Hiphil participle in construct with the noun for “man” (or person as is understood in a law for the nation): “the one striking [of] a man.” This is a casus pendens (independent nominative absolute); it indicates the condition or action that involves further consequence (GKC 361 §116.w).
[21:12] 3 tn The Hebrew word וָמֵת (vamet) is a Qal perfect with vav consecutive; it means “and he dies” and not “and killed him” (which require another stem). Gesenius notes that this form after a participle is the equivalent of a sentence representing a contingent action (GKC 333 §112.n). The word shows the result of the action in the opening participle. It is therefore a case of murder or manslaughter.
[21:12] 4 sn See A. Phillips, “Another Look at Murder,” JJS 28 (1977): 105-26.
[21:13] 5 tn Heb “if he does not lie in wait” (NASB similar).
[21:13] 6 tn Heb “and God brought into his hand.” The death is unintended, its circumstances outside human control.
