But if any man hate his neighbour,.... Has conceived enmity in his heart against him, bears him a mortal hatred, and has formed a scheme in his mind to take away his life:
and lie in wait for him knowing and expecting he will come by in such a way at such a time:
and rise up against him; out of the place where he lay in wait, just at the time he is passing by:
and smite him mortally that he die; or smite him
in soul or life z; in such a part where life is in danger, and the consequence of it is that he dies:
and fleeth into one of these cities; for shelter from the avenger of blood.
z נפש, "anima", Montanus, Vatablus.