1 When the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath cut off H3772 the nations, H1471 whose land H776 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee, and thou succeedest H3423 them, and dwellest H3427 in their cities, H5892 and in their houses; H1004
2 Thou shalt separate H914 three H7969 cities H5892 for thee in the midst H8432 of thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee to possess H3423 it.
3 Thou shalt prepare H3559 thee a way, H1870 and divide the coasts H1366 of thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth thee to inherit, H5157 into three parts, H8027 that every slayer H7523 may flee H5127 thither.
4 And this is the case H1697 of the slayer, H7523 which shall flee H5127 thither, that he may live: H2425 Whoso killeth H5221 his neighbour H7453 ignorantly, H1097 H1847 whom he hated H8130 not in time H8543 past; H8032
5 As when a man goeth H935 into the wood H3293 with his neighbour H7453 to hew H2404 wood, H6086 and his hand H3027 fetcheth a stroke H5080 with the axe H1631 to cut down H3772 the tree, H6086 and the head H1270 slippeth H5394 from the helve, H6086 and lighteth H4672 upon his neighbour, H7453 that he die; H4191 he shall flee H5127 unto one H259 of those cities, H5892 and live: H2425
6 Lest the avenger H1350 of the blood H1818 pursue H7291 the slayer, H310 H7523 while H3588 his heart H3824 is hot, H3179 and overtake H5381 him, because the way H1870 is long, H7235 and slay H5221 him; H5315 whereas he was not worthy H4941 of death, H4194 inasmuch as H3588 he hated H8130 him not in time H8543 past. H8032
7 Wherefore I command H6680 thee, saying, H559 Thou shalt separate H914 three H7969 cities H5892 for thee.
8 And if the LORD H3068 thy God H430 enlarge H7337 thy coast, H1366 as he hath sworn H7650 unto thy fathers, H1 and give H5414 thee all the land H776 which he promised H1696 to give H5414 unto thy fathers; H1
9 If thou shalt keep H8104 all these commandments H4687 to do H6213 them, which I command H6680 thee this day, H3117 to love H157 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and to walk H3212 ever H3117 in his ways; H1870 then shalt thou add H3254 three H7969 cities H5892 more for thee, beside these three: H7969
10 That innocent H5355 blood H1818 be not shed H8210 in H7130 thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee for an inheritance, H5159 and so blood H1818 be upon thee.
11 But if any man H376 hate H8130 his neighbour, H7453 and lie in wait H693 for him, and rise up H6965 against him, and smite H5221 him mortally H5315 that he die, H4191 and fleeth H5127 into one H259 of these H411 cities: H5892
12 Then the elders H2205 of his city H5892 shall send H7971 and fetch H3947 him thence, and deliver H5414 him into the hand H3027 of the avenger H1350 of blood, H1818 that he may die. H4191
13 Thine eye H5869 shall not pity H2347 him, but thou shalt put away H1197 the guilt of innocent H5355 blood H1818 from Israel, H3478 that it may go well H2895 with thee.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 19
Commentary on Deuteronomy 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
De 19:1-13. Of the Cities of Refuge.
2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land—Goelism, or the duty of the nearest kinsmen to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, being the customary law of that age (as it still is among the Arabs and other people of the East), Moses incorporated it in an improved form with his legislative code. For the protection of the unintentional homicide, he provided certain cities of refuge—three had been destined for this purpose on the east of Jordan (De 4:41; Nu 35:11); three were to be invested with the same privilege on the west of that river when Canaan should be conquered.
in the midst of thy land—in such a position that they would be conspicuous and accessible, and equidistant from the extremities of the land and from each other.
3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way—The roads leading to them were to be kept in good condition and the brooks or rivers to be spanned by good bridges; the width of the roads was to be thirty-two cubits; and at all the crossroads signposts were to be erected with the words, Mekeleth, Mekeleth, "refuge, refuge," painted on them.
divide the coasts of thy land … into three parts—the whole extent of the country from the south to the north. The three cities on each side of Jordan were opposite to each other, "as two rows of vines in a vineyard" (see on Jos 20:7).
6, 7. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot—This verse is a continuation of De 19:3 (for De 19:4, 5, which are explanatory, are in a parenthetical form), and the meaning is that if the kinsman of a person inadvertently killed should, under the impulse of sudden excitement and without inquiring into the circumstances, inflict summary vengeance on the homicide, however guiltless, the law tolerated such an act; it was to pass with impunity. But to prevent such precipitate measures, the cities of refuge were established for the reception of the homicide, that "innocent blood might not be shed in thy land" (De 19:10). In the case of premeditated murder (De 19:11, 12), they afforded no immunity; but, if it were only manslaughter, the moment the fugitive was within the gates, he found himself in a safe asylum (Nu 35:26-28; Jos 20:6).
8, 9. And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast—Three additional sanctuaries were to be established in the event of their territory extending over the country from Hermon and Gilead to the Euphrates (see Ge 15:18; Ex 23:31). But it was obscurely hinted that this last provision would never be carried into effect, as the Israelites would not fulfil the conditions, namely, "that of keeping the commandments, to love the Lord, and walk ever in his ways." In point of fact, although that region was brought into subjection by David and Solomon, we do not find that cities of refuge were established; because those sovereigns only made the ancient inhabitants tributary, instead of sending a colony of Israelites to possess it. The privilege of sanctuary cities, however, was given only for Israelites; and besides, that conquered territory did not remain long under the power of the Hebrew kings.
De 19:14. The Landmark Is Not to Be Removed.
14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old have set in thine inheritance—The state of Palestine in regard to enclosures is very much the same now as it has always been. Though gardens and vineyards are surrounded by dry-stone walls or hedges of prickly pear, the boundaries of arable fields are marked by nothing but by a little trench, a small cairn, or a single erect stone, placed at certain intervals. It is manifest that a dishonest person could easily fill the gutter with earth, or remove these stones a few feet without much risk of detection and so enlarge his own field by a stealthy encroachment on his neighbor's. This law, then, was made to prevent such trespasses.
De 19:15. Two Witnesses Required.
15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity—The following rules to regulate the admission of testimony in public courts are founded on the principles of natural justice. A single witness shall not be admitted to the condemnation of an accused person.
De 19:16-21. Punishment of a False Witness.
16-21. But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly the same as would have overtaken the object of his malignant prosecution. (See on Ex 21:23; see also Le 24:20).