Deuteronomy 19:3-4

3 "You shall prepare the roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the territory of your land which the LORD your God will give you as a possession, so that any manslayer may flee there.

4 "¹Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: when he kills his friend unintentionally *, not hating him previously -

Deuteronomy 19:3-4 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

• 1. Numbers 35:9-34

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "road"
• [b]. Lit "and it shall be for every manslayer to flee there"
• [c]. Lit "smites"
• [d]. Lit "without knowledge"
• [e]. Lit "and he was not hating him previously"