Deuteronomy 4:41

Cities of Refuge

41 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east ¹

Deuteronomy 4:41 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:41

Then Moses severed three cities
To be cities of refuge, according to the command of God, ( Numbers 35:14 ) this he did when he had conquered the two kingdoms of the Amorites, that God had given them for an inheritance to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, ( Deuteronomy 4:38 ) though Jarchi says, and so other Jewish writers, that persons were not received into them until the three cities appointed in the land of Canaan were separated for the like use; (See Gill on Numbers 35:14) and these were,

on this side Jordan, toward the rising sun;
on that side of the river on which the plains of Moab lay, and the kingdoms of the Amorites, and to the east of Jordan: so Jarchi remarks,

``on that side which is on the east of Jordan;''

see ( Joshua 20:8 ) .

Deuteronomy 4:41 In-Context

39 Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

40 Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

41 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

42 to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:

43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Cross References

• 1. (Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 19:1–14; Joshua 20:1–9)