(Bamidbar 35:32) "And you shall not take ransom for one who fled to the city of his refuge, etc.": If one killed unwittingly, I might think that if he gave money (i.e., "ransom"), he would not be exiled. It is, therefore, written "And you shall not take ransom for one who has fled, etc."

(Bamidbar 35:33) "Velo tachanifu the land": This is an exhortation against flatterers ("chanafim"). Variantly: Do not cause the land to "flatter" you (i.e., not to produce fruit). "ki hadam hu yachanif eth ha'aretz": Rabbi Yoshiyah interpreted this acronymically, viz.: "ki hadam hu yachon af ba'aretz" ("for the blood will repose wrath upon the land." "and the land will not have atonement." What is the intent of this? Because it is written (Devarim 21:4) "and they shall break there the neck of the heifer in the river-bed," I might think that if its neck were broken and afterwards the murderer were found, it would effect atonement. It is, therefore, written "and the land will not have atonement." We are hereby taught that the spilling of blood defiles the land and removes the Shechinah. And because of the spilling of blood the Temple was destroyed.