Deuteronomy 19:4

4 haec erit lex homicidae fugientis cuius vita servanda est qui percusserit proximum suum nesciens et qui heri et nudius tertius nullum contra eum habuisse odium conprobatur

Deuteronomy 19:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:4

And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither,
that he may live
It was not any slayer that might have protection in these cities, but such who were thus and thus circumstanced, or whose case was as follows:

whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly;
without intention, as the Targum of Jonathan, did not design it, but was done by him unawares:

whom he hated not in time past;
had never shown by words or deeds that he had any hatred of him or enmity to him three days ago; so that if there were no marks of hatred, or proofs of it three days before this happened, it was reckoned an accidental thing, and not done on purpose, as this phrase is usually interpreted; see ( Exodus 21:29 ) .

Deuteronomy 19:4 In-Context

2 tres civitates separabis tibi in medio terrae quam Dominus Deus tuus dabit tibi in possessionem

3 sternens diligenter viam et in tres aequaliter partes totam terrae tuae provinciam divides ut habeat e vicino qui propter homicidium profugus est quo possit evadere

4 haec erit lex homicidae fugientis cuius vita servanda est qui percusserit proximum suum nesciens et qui heri et nudius tertius nullum contra eum habuisse odium conprobatur

5 sed abisse simpliciter cum eo in silvam ad ligna caedenda et in succisione lignorum securis fugerit manu ferrumque lapsum de manubrio amicum eius percusserit et occiderit hic ad unam supradictarum urbium confugiet et vivet

6 ne forsitan proximus eius cuius effusus est sanguis dolore stimulatus persequatur et adprehendat eum si longior via fuerit et percutiat animam eius qui non est reus mortis quia nullum contra eum qui occisus est odium prius habuisse monstratur