Deuteronomy 4:41-49

Cities of Refuge

41 Then Moses 1set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan,
42 that 2the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life:
43 3Bezer in the wilderness on the 4tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44 This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel.
45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
46 beyond the Jordan 5in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, 6whom Moses and the people of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt.
47 And they took possession of his land and the land 7of Og, the king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan;
48 8from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount 9Sirion[a] (that is, 10Hermon),
49 together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as 11the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy 4:41-49 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 4

This chapter contains an exhortation to Israel to keep the commands, statutes, and judgments of God, urged from the superior excellency of them to those of all other nations, De 4:1-8, from the manner in which they were delivered, out of the midst of fire, by a voice of words, but no similitude seen, De 4:9-15, and particularly the Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, from the consideration of the goodness of God to them, in bringing them out of Egypt, De 4:16-20, and the rather Moses is urgent upon them to be diligent in their obedience to the laws of God, because he should quickly be removed from them, De 4:21-24, and should they be disobedient to them, it would provoke the Lord to destroy them, or to carry them captive into other lands, De 4:25-28 though even then, if they repented and sought the Lord, and became obedient, he would be merciful to them, and not forsake them, De 4:29-31 and they are put in mind again of the amazing things God had done for them, in speaking to them out of fire, and they alive; in bringing them out of another nation, and driving out other nations to make room for them; all which he improves, as so many arguments to move them to obedience to the divine commands, De 4:32-40 and then notice is taken of the three cities of refuge, separated on this side Jordan, De 4:41-43, and the chapter is concluded with observing, that this is the law, and these the testimonies, Moses declared and repeated to the children of Israel in the country of Sihon and Og, who were delivered into their hands, and their lands possessed by them, which laid them under fresh obligations to yield obedience to God, De 4:44-49.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Numbers 35:6, 14
  • 2. Deuteronomy 19:4
  • 3. Joshua 20:8; Joshua 21:36; 1 Chronicles 6:78
  • 4. See Deuteronomy 3:10
  • 5. Deuteronomy 3:29
  • 6. Deuteronomy 1:4; Numbers 21:24
  • 7. Deuteronomy 3:3, 4; Numbers 21:33, 35
  • 8. See Deuteronomy 2:36
  • 9. [Deuteronomy 3:9]
  • 10. See Deuteronomy 3:9
  • 11. See Deuteronomy 3:17

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.