Deuteronomy 19

Chap. XIX. Ver. 1—21._ Cities of Refuge.—In conveying instruction, familiar examples and illustrations, though taken from the most ordinary occupations or scenes of life, are of very great use, to give determinate ideas of the thing to be inculcated; and in laws especially, precision should be studied that the distinction between the innocent and the guilty, and between a man’s crime and his calamity, may be as plainly specified as it is possible. For whether the criminal escape unpunished, or the innocent suffer, injustice is committed; and in case of bloodshed, guilt is brought upon the land where it takes place. On such occasions compassion for the offender may become cruelty to numbers: it must therefore be moderated; or counteracted by the fear of God, the love of justice, and general benevolence.

But to avoid the horrid crime of murder, we must watch and pray against the first emotions of hatred and anger: and to be preserved from injustice, we must beware of covetousness, which is wonderfully ingenious in devising such methods of defrauding as may escape detection, censure, or human punishment. Alas! what a reproach is it to the whole human species, that God himself forbids the testimony of any one man to be taken in things of consequence! Verily he judges all men to be liars, and none absolutely and in all cases to be trusted; which is not only a caution to judges and juries, but a reason for watchfulness and humiliation to us all.—Few crimes are more atrocious in their nature, pernicious in their effects, or affronting to God, than bearing false witness in matters of great importance; and with us especially, since it is always connected with perjury.

It is greatly to be wished that it was more commonly and severely punished by man, according to this most excellent and equitable law: but it will meet with its due punishment from a righteous God! Let all Christians however be cautious not only in bearing public testimony, but also not to propagate private slanders; and let those whose consciences accuse them of these or other crimes, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before us in Jesus Christ.— T. Scott. E

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIX. Ver. 2. Three cities for thee.—That is, for refuge. For the nature and design of these cities, see exposition of (Numbers 35)Three cities had been already named on the east of Jordan, (Deuteronomy 4:41-43), and when they had entered Canaan, three more were to be named, in the interior of the land.

Ver. 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way.— Maimonides says, “The senate were bound to prepare the ways to the cities of refuge, to make them fit and broad; and to remove out of them all stumbling-blocks and offences;…. and at the partition of ways, they set up in writing, ‘Refuge, Refuge,’ that the manslayer might know, and turn thitherward.”

Ver. 14. Land marks.—(Before the extensive use of fences, landed property was marked out by stones or posts, set up so as to ascertain the divisions of family estates.

It was easy to remove one of these land-marks, and set it in a different place; and thus a dishonest man might enlarge his own estate by contracting that of his neighbour. Hence it was a matter of considerable importance to prevent this crime among the Israelites; among whom removing them would be equivalent to forging, altering, destroying, or concealing the title-deeds of an estate among us. Accordingly, by the Mosaic law, it was not only prohibited in the commandment against covetousness, but we find a particular curse expressly annexed to it in ch. xxvii. 17. A similar law existed among the Greeks, as appears from Plato; and Numa Pompilius made this crime capital. Josephus considers this law a general prohibition intended not only to protect private property, but also to preserve the boundaries of domains and countries inviolable, |—Bagster