Deuteronomy 19:11

11 “But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge.

Deuteronomy 19:11 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:11

But if any man hate his neighbour
Has conceived enmity in his heart against him, bears him a mortal hatred, and has formed a scheme in his mind to take away his life:

and lie in wait for him
knowing and expecting he will come by in such a way at such a time:

and rise up against him;
out of the place where he lay in wait, just at the time he is passing by:

and smite him mortally that he die;
or smite him

in soul or life
^F26; in such a part where life is in danger, and the consequence of it is that he dies:

and fleeth into one of these cities;
for shelter from the avenger of blood.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (vpn) , "anima", Montanus, Vatablus.

Deuteronomy 19:11 In-Context

9 you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you—if you always love the LORD your God and walk in his ways.)

10 That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.

11 “But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge.

12 In that case, the elders of the murderer’s hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person’s avenger to be put to death.

13 Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you.