Deuteronomy 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

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).