Deuteronomy19

Deuteronomy 19 establishes laws for justice in the promised land, primarily concerning cities of refuge. These cities are designated to protect individuals who accidentally kill their neighbour from the avenger of blood, while ensuring that premeditated murderers face execution. The chapter also prohibits moving ancient property landmarks and mandates that legal matters be established by two or three witnesses. Furthermore, it prescribes that false witnesses receive the same penalty they intended for the accused, upholding the principle of proportionate justice.

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The Law of Cities of Refuge

When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;

thou shalt set apart three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which Jehovah thy God causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.

And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past;

as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, so that he dieth; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live:

lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt set apart three cities for thee.

And if Jehovah thy God enlarge thy border, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;

if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love Jehovah thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, besides these three:

that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally so that he dieth, and he flee into one of these cities;

then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Protecting Property Boundaries

Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Judicial Fairness and Witnesses

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing,

then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days;

and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and have testified falsely against his brother;

then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to do unto his brother: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.

And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.

And thine eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Study Notes for Deuteronomy 19

Verse 1

This law is contingent upon Israel successfully conquering and settling the land. The establishment of these cities is foundational to maintaining justice and holiness in the new territory.

Verse 2

Moses had previously established three Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan (Deut. 4:41-43). The three cities referenced here were to be chosen west of the Jordan, making a total of six (Joshua 20:7).

Verse 3

The command to 'prepare thee a way' suggests that the roads leading to the Cities of Refuge were to be maintained and clearly marked, ensuring the fleeing person could reach safety quickly before the avenger overtook them.

Verse 5

This detailed hypothetical scenario (the slipping axe head) emphasizes the crucial legal distinction between premeditated murder and accidental death (manslaughter).

Verse 6

The 'avenger of the blood' (Hebrew: *go’el haddam*) was typically the closest male relative of the deceased, tasked with ensuring retribution. The cities protected the innocent from this culturally mandated familial vengeance.

Verse 8

The provision to add three more cities demonstrates God’s commitment to ensuring that the availability of justice keeps pace with the nation’s territorial expansion.

Verse 9

This provision for expanded justice is conditional upon Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant and commandments of God.

Verse 10

Shedding innocent blood pollutes the land and brings guilt upon the community. The refuge system is a means of cleansing the land and upholding the sanctity of human life.

Verse 13

The mandate not to pity the murderer underscores that justice must be applied firmly in capital cases to remove evil from the community and ensure national well-being.

Verse 14

Removing a neighbor’s landmark (property marker) was a serious offense, equivalent to theft, as it illegally reduced a family’s divinely granted inheritance. This law protects the stability of land tenure.

Verse 15

The requirement of two or three witnesses prevents conviction based on unreliable testimony or personal animosity, establishing a bedrock principle of fairness in biblical and subsequent legal systems.

Verse 17

To stand 'before the LORD' means to appear before the designated earthly representatives of God's authority (the priests and judges), signifying that the court was conducting divine justice.

Verse 18

The judges were required to make 'diligent inquisition' (thorough investigation) to ensure that the verdict was based on truth rather than mere accusation.

Verse 19

The punishment for a false witness was to suffer the penalty intended for the accused. This severe application of *lex talionis* served as a powerful deterrent against perjury and protected the judicial integrity.

Verse 21

This principle ('life for life, eye for eye') is not a mandate for personal vengeance, but a limiting legal standard (*lex talionis*) ensuring that judicial punishment is proportionate—no more and no less than the offense committed.

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Deuteronomy19

The Law of Cities of Refuge

Protecting Property Boundaries

Judicial Fairness and Witnesses

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