NUM408 (Continued from [[EXOD720]] Exodus 17:14 Amalek BLOCH 65). The desire to eradicate bloodshed was paradoxically responsible for the biblical tolerance of the institution of the blood-avenger. A blood-avenger was an heir of a victim of murder who considered it his duty to avenge the death of his kin by killing the murderer [this verse]. This practice most likely originated in the distant past prior to the establishment of competent criminal courts. Avenging a kin's death was a debt of honor. There were also some who believed that the victim's soul would find no rest until the killer was destroyed. Moved by such emotional considerations, a blood-avenger would neither understand nor comply with any law which attempted to suppress his right to avenge his kin's death. The Bible intimates that God took into consideration the "heat of anger" of an avenger (Deuteronomy 19:6). The practice was therefor left undisturbed by the Pentateuch, in the words of Maimonides, "in its great zeal to eradicate bloodshed" (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Rotzeach 1:4). However, the Bible imposed limitations on the avenger's right to take the law into his own hands. Thus, while tolerating the practice, it practically illuminated it. The avenger was permitted to catch the killer, but he could not execute him until such time as the suspect was convicted by a court (Numbers 35:12). In the event that the homicide was unintentional, the killer was granted sanctuary in cities of refuge (Numbers 35:11). In time, the law of the avenger became obsolete. (Continued at [[EXOD592]] Exodus 21:24 eye BLOCH 66-7).