Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19:1-13

This chapter relates, (1.) To the faith commandment, Thou shalt not kill, ver. 1—13. (2.) To the eighth commandment, Thou shalt not steal, ver. 14. (3.) To the ninth commandment, Thou shalt not bear false witness, ver. 15—21.

1 Chap. xii. 39. 1 Chap. iv. 41. Heb. From yehades and the third day. Heb. Iren. Heb. Wood. Heb. Fintech. Nemb. 1000. 12. Heb. Sayin him in life. See ver. 6. Juh. xx. 7. Num. 1000. 5. 26.

1. WHEN the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedeth them, and dwelleth in their cities, and in their houses; 2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land (which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit) into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. 4. ¶ And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whofo killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past. 5. As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour, to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: 6. ¶ Left the avenger of the blood purdue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 7. Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. 8. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, (as he hath sworn unto thy fathers) and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers: 9. (If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways) then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: 10. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and be blood be upon thee. 11. ¶ But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and finite him § mortally, that he die, and fowth into one of these cities: 12. 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. 13. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Effectual provision is here made for the preservation of the person who should be so unhappy as to kill another by accident, and also for the punishment of the murderer. 1.

Three cities had been already provided on that side Jordan; three others are to be severed on the other side; and if they were obedient, their border should be farther enlarged, and three cities more added for this gracious purpose. But of this their sins deprived them. To these cities the man slayer must flee; because though the death was accidental, yet if overtaken on the road by the relations of the person, he might be slain. The road was kept ever clear of impediments, and polls set up wherever two ways met, with Miklat, Refuge, written on them, pointing to the city, that the man slayer might not err; and when once false lodged there, no sword of the purifier might touch him. Nate, (1.) Christ is this city; the sinner fesseth to him, and is false. (2.) Ministers are these directors, to teach the way, and assist such as desire to flee from the wrath to come. (3.) The way is plain, and the city near, for every awakened soul that truly sire for refuge. If any sinner perishes, his blood is on his own head, because he neglects so great a salvation. 2. The murderer must find no protection, though he find to the city of refuge. If the murder were of design, and previous hatred was proved, he must be delivered up, and put to death, that innocent blood may not be upon the land. Nate, (1.) All sanctuaries for murder, such as are common in the church of Rome, are as great as impiety against God, as destructive of sound government in the land. (2.) The wilful sinner has no covering; even Christ prefers him nothing. Since he will not come to him that he might have life, he must suffer, what he provokes, the wages of eternal death.

Deuteronomy 19:14-21

Care being taken for men’s lives, their properties are next secured. 1. A law is ordained for the preserving each man in his possession, according to the ancient boundaries allotted him. No encroachments must be made, nor land-marks destroyed, which might give occasion for dispute. Nate, (1.) For the sake of potency, we are bound to maintain our just rights, and should keep them clearly ascertained. (2.) All invasion of our neighbours property is highly criminal, and no less to the concealing or destroying those records or evidences which may expose him to ruinous law-suits, and render his just rights precarious. 2. In criminal cases, two witnesses or more were required, in order to conviction. In case of suspicion of perjury, (as what will not revenge or overconfess do!) the matter was brought before the Lord, and the great counsel of priests and judges made diligent inquisition; and on proof of the fact, then they inflicted on the perjured person the same punishment, which, had his evidence been true, should have been inflicted on his neighbour, whether of death, or slaying, or pecuniary mulct. A decision, than which nothing could be more just, nor better suited to deter all men from such heinous wickedness. Nate, God will in righteous judgment often overrule the wickedness of men, and hang them like Hassan on the gallows they have eroded for others.