What do we learn from "Gil'ad Kiryas Po'alei Aven Akubah mi'Dam"?
Makos 10a: There were many murderers in Gil'ad. This is why there were three Arei Miklat in Ever ha'Yarden (for only two and a half Shevatim), and three in Eretz Yisrael 1 (for nine and a half Shevatim).
Malbim: This refers to people who transgressed the Bris and did not ascend to Mitzpah to fight over [Pilegesh b']Giv'ah.
10a: There were another 42 cities of Leviyim that absorbed murderers, but only if they intended to take refuge there.
What do we learn from "Akubah mi'Dam"?
Rashi, based on Makos 10a: It is full of people who sit in ambush to murder. This is like "V'Es Akevo" (Yehoshua 8:13), "va'Yakeveni" (Bereishis 27:36).
Radak #1: This is like "Akov ha'Lev" (Yirmeyah 17:9), "v'Yehu Asah v'Akvah" (Melachim II, 10:9) ? deception and scheming.
Radak #2: It is dirty from blood. The Yerushalmi (Avodah Zarah 5:10) learns from here that Akivas Yayin is dirty from wine.
Malbim: Before, all of Yavesh Gil'ad] were killed, and their blood spilled. Now, the Nevi'im were killed there, as if they transgressed the Bris transgressed the Bris (to fight, in the days of Pilegesh b'Giv'ah, and betrayed Hashem).
