Deuteronomy 19

1 The LORD your God will destroy all the nations that are living in the land that he's giving you. You will force them out and live in their cities and houses.

2 When all this is done, set aside three cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

3 Provide a route to each of these cities and divide the land that the LORD your God is giving you into three regions. Whoever kills someone may run to one of these cities.

4 A person who unintentionally kills someone he never hated in the past may run to one of these cities to save his life.

5 Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies off the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life.

6 Otherwise, in a rage the relative who has the authority to avenge the death will pursue him. If the place is too far away, the relative may catch up with him and take his life even though he didn't deserve the death penalty, because in the past he never hated the person he killed.

7 This is why I'm commanding you to set aside three cities for yourselves.

8 The LORD your God may expand your country's borders as he promised your ancestors with an oath. He may give you the whole land he promised to give them.

9 He may do this because you faithfully obey all these commands I am now giving you--to love the LORD your God and follow his directions as long as you live. If this happens, you may add three more cities of refuge to these three.

10 That way, innocent people won't be killed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you won't be guilty of murder.

11 Suppose someone hates another person, waits in ambush for him, attacks him, takes his life, and runs to one of these cities.

12 If someone does this, the leaders of your city must send for that person. They must take him from that city and hand him over to the relative who has the authority to avenge the death. He must die.

13 They must have no pity on him. The guilt of murdering an innocent person must be removed from Israel. Then things will go well for Israel.

14 Never move your neighbor's original boundary marker on any property in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

15 One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

16 This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime.

17 The two people involved must stand in the LORD's presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time.

18 The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite,

19 then do to him what he planned to do to the other person. You must get rid of this evil.

20 When the rest of the people hear about this, they will be afraid. Never again will such an evil thing be done among you.

21 Have no pity on him: [Take] a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

Deuteronomy 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

The cities of refuge, The man-slayer, The murderer. (1-13) Landmarks not to be removed. (14) The punishment of false witnesses. (15-21)

Verses 1-13 Here is the law settled between the blood of the murdered, and the blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the cities of refuge should be a protection, so that a man should not die for that as a crime, which was not his willing act. In Christ, the Lord our Righteousness, refuge is provided for those who by faith flee unto him. But there is no refuge in Jesus Christ for presumptuous sinners, who go on still in their trespasses. Those who flee to Christ from their sins, shall be safe in him, but not those who expect to be sheltered by him in their sins.

Verse 14 Direction is given to fix landmarks in Canaan. It is the will of God that every one should know his own; and that means should be used to hinder the doing and suffering of wrong. This, without doubt, is a moral precept, and still binding. Let every man be content with his own lot, and be just to his neighbours in all things.

Verses 15-21 Sentence should never be passed upon the testimony of one witness alone. A false witness should suffer the same punishment which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused. Nor could any law be more just. Let all Christians not only be cautious in bearing witness in public, but be careful not to join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse them of crime, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before them in Jesus Christ.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 19

This chapter contains an order to separate three cities of refuge in the land of Canaan, for such that killed a man unawares to flee to, of which those who were guilty of murder purposely were to have no benefit, De 19:1-13, a law is given against removing landmarks, De 19:14, and others concerning witnesses, that they should be more than one; be two, or three, De 19:15, and that a false witness, on conviction, should be punished, De 19:16-21.