Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 21:12-21

"He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death. And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed; if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed. And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money." — Exodus 21:12-21 (ASV)

God, who by His providence gives and maintains life, by His law protects it. A willful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those whose misfortune it was, and not their fault, to cause the death of another. These cities were for those who by accident, while doing a lawful act and without intent of harm, happened to kill another.

Let children hear the sentence of God's word upon the ungrateful and disobedient. Let them remember that God will certainly requite it if they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or have lifted up their hands against them, unless they repent and flee for refuge to the Saviour.

And from this, let parents learn to be very careful in training up their children, setting them a good example, especially in the control of their passions, and in praying for them, taking heed not to provoke them to wrath.

Through poverty, the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children. Magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But “man-stealing,” the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes.

Care is taken here that satisfaction be made for harm done to a person, even if death does not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear and to moderate threats (Ephesians 6:9), considering with Job, What shall I do, when God riseth up? (Job 31:13–14).