Deuteronomy 19:10-13

10 "So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and 1bloodguiltiness be on you.
11 "But 2if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities,
12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13 "3You shall not pity him, but 4you shall purge the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with you.

Deuteronomy 19:10-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 21:1-9
  • 2. Exodus 21:12; Numbers 35:16; 1 John 3:15
  • 3. Deuteronomy 7:2
  • 4. 1 Kings 2:31

Footnotes 2

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