Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronomy 19 outlines the laws concerning cities of refuge, the protection of innocent people, and the punishment of those guilty of intentional murder or false witness. These regulations emphasize justice, fairness, and protection for all people, particularly for those who might otherwise be unjustly accused or harmed.
Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “When the Lord your God has cut off the nations whose land the Lord your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses,
2 you shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.
3 You shall prepare roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the territory of your land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, that any manslayer may flee there."
God instructs Israel to designate cities of refuge after taking possession of the Promised Land. These cities provide a place for individuals who accidentally kill someone to escape the avenger of blood and be judged fairly. Dividing the land into sections and making roads to these cities ensures easy access, underscoring God’s concern for justice and mercy in cases of unintentional harm.
Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “And this is the case of the manslayer who flees there, that he may live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, not having hated him in time past—
5 as when a man goes to the woods with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live."
These verses provide an example of an accidental killing. The person is not guilty of murder because there was no malice or intent. In this case, the one who caused the death can seek refuge in a designated city. This law helps to distinguish between accidental manslaughter and premeditated murder, ensuring that justice is tempered with mercy.
Deuteronomy 19:6 (NKJV)
6 "Lest the avenger of blood, while his anger is hot, pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and kill him, though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated the victim in time past."
God warns that, in the heat of emotion, the avenger of blood may pursue and kill the manslayer without understanding the circumstances. The cities of refuge provide protection until a fair trial can be conducted. This law ensures that justice is not driven by emotion but by the truth of each case.
Deuteronomy 19:7-9 (NKJV)
7 "Therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall separate three cities for yourself.’
8 Now if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you the land which He promised to give to your fathers,
9 and if you keep all these commandments and do them, which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk always in His ways, then you shall add three more cities for yourself besides these three."
God reiterates the command to set up three cities of refuge but adds that more cities should be established if Israel’s territory expands. This provision is conditional upon Israel’s faithfulness in obeying God's commandments. Expanding the cities ensures that everyone in the nation, regardless of their location, has access to justice and protection.
Deuteronomy 19:10 (NKJV)
10 "Lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and thus guilt of bloodshed be upon you."
This verse emphasizes the importance of preventing the shedding of innocent blood. God is concerned with maintaining justice in the land He gives Israel. If the cities of refuge were not established, innocent people might be wrongfully killed, bringing guilt upon the nation.
Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (NKJV)
11 “But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises against him and strikes him mortally so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities,
12 then the elders of his city shall send and bring him from there, and deliver him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you."
These verses address premeditated murder. If someone kills with intent and tries to escape to a city of refuge, the protection does not apply. The elders must ensure justice is done by handing the guilty person over to the avenger of blood. This distinction between accidental and intentional killing is crucial for maintaining justice and preventing abuse of the cities of refuge.
Deuteronomy 19:14 (NKJV)
14 “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess."
This law protects property rights in Israel by prohibiting the removal of boundary markers. These landmarks were set by the ancestors to divide the land fairly. Removing them would be a form of theft and injustice, disrupting the equitable distribution of the land that God had given to each tribe and family.
Deuteronomy 19:15 (NKJV)
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."
This law prevents false accusations by requiring the testimony of two or three witnesses to establish guilt. It protects individuals from being condemned on the word of just one person and ensures a fair trial. This principle of requiring multiple witnesses is a safeguard against injustice and false testimony.
Deuteronomy 19:16-19 (NKJV)
16 “If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing,
17 then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days.
18 And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother,
19 then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you."
These verses address the issue of false witnesses. If someone lies in court to harm another, they will face the same punishment they intended for the accused. This law emphasizes fairness and the importance of truth in legal matters. By punishing false witnesses, Israel would prevent injustice and maintain a society based on honesty.
Deuteronomy 19:20 (NKJV)
20 "And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you."
This verse highlights the deterrent effect of punishing false witnesses. When people see that lying in court results in severe consequences, they will be less likely to commit the same sin. The purpose is to uphold justice and ensure that dishonesty does not spread in the community.
Deuteronomy 19:21 (NKJV)
21 "Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."
This law, known as lex talionis, ensures that punishment is proportional to the crime. It limits personal vengeance by establishing fair retribution. However, the punishment must fit the crime, not exceed it. This system of justice balances mercy with accountability, preventing excessive retaliation while maintaining fairness.