Deuteronomy 19:10

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.

Deuteronomy 19:10 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:10

That innocent blood be not shed
As it would be if such a slayer as before described was killed by the avenger of blood, before he could get to one of these cities of refuge, or supposing that they had not bean appointed, or a sufficient number of them:

which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance;
to be enjoyed by them and their children after them, provided they did not defile it by their sins, but observed the commands of the Lord to obey them and

so blood be upon thee;
the guilt of innocent blood crying for vengeance, as would be the case if such a man's blood was shed as before described; it seems as if the guilt would rather affect the whole land, for not having a proper provision of "asylums" for such persons, than the avenger of blood.

Deuteronomy 19:10 In-Context

8 "If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, just as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which He promised to give your fathers -
9 if you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always -then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.
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 bloodguiltiness be on you.
11 "But if 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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 21:1-9
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