Exodus 21:14

But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile,.... That comes with malice in his heart, with wrath in his countenance, in a bold, daring, hostile manner, using all the…

There was no place of safety for the guilty murderer, not even the altar of Yahweh. Thus all superstitious notions connected with the right of sanctuary were excluded. Adonijah and Joab 1Ki 1:50; 1Ki…

Thou shalt take him from mine altar - Before the cities of refuge were assigned, the altar of God was the common asylum.

Here is, I. A law concerning murder. He had lately said, Thou shalt not kill; here he provides, 1. For the punishing of wilful murder (Exo 21:12): He that smiteth a man, whether upon a sudden passion…

But the protection of the altar is not to be extended to the wilful murderer. Cf. Deu 19:11-13; also the more detailed treatment of the case of wilful murder in the law of P (Num 35:16-21).

from mine…