Deuteronomy Chapter 19

“When the Lord thy God hath cut off the nations whose land the Lord thy God giveth thee, etc.] The seven nations of the land of Canaan, whose destruction was of the Lord for their sins, and whose land was a gift of him that had a right to dispose of it to the children of Israel; (see <051229> Deuteronomy 12:29) and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; should possess their land in their stead, by virtue of the gift of it to them by the Lord, and inhabit their cities and houses built by them.”

“OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (Deu 19:1-13) Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land--Goelism, or the duty of the nearest kinsmen to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, being the customary law of that age (as it still is among the Arabs and other people of the East), Moses incorporated it in an improved form with his legislative code. For the protection of the unintentional homicide, he provided certain cities of refuge--three had been destined for this purpose on the east of Jordan (Deu 4:41; Num 35:11); three were to be invested with the same privilege on the west of that river when…”

“This and the next two chapters contain enactments designed to protect human life, and to impress its sanctity on Israel. In Deuteronomy 19:1-13 the directions respecting the preparation of the roads to the cities of refuge, the provision of additional cities in case of an extension of territory, and the intervention of the elders as representing the congregation, are unique to Deuteronomy and supplementary to the laws on the same subject given in the earlier books (compare the marginal reference). Deuteronomy 19:1, Deuteronomy 19:2 The three cities of refuge for the district east of Jordan had been already named.…”

“In the midst of the land - Namely, beyond Jordan, as there were three already appointed on this side Jordan: In the midst of the several parts of their land, to which they might speedily flee from all the parts of the land. Deuteronomy 19:3”

“19:1-13 Cities of refuge (19:2) were strategically located throughout the land so those accused of homicide could find protective sanctuary until their cases came to trial (see 4:41; Num 35:6-29).”

“hath cut: Deu 6:10, Deu 7:1, Deu 7:2, Deu 12:1, Deu 12:29, Deu 17:14 succeedest: Heb. inheritest, or possessest, Deu 12:29 Deuteronomy 19:2”

“The laws concerning the Cities of Refuge for Unintentional Manslayers are not a mere repetition of the laws given in Num 35:9-34, but rather an admonition to carry out those laws, with special reference to the future extension of the boundaries of the land. Deu 19:1-9 As Moses had already set apart the cities of refuge for the land on the east of the Jordan ( Deu 4:41.), he is speaking here simply of the land on the west, which Israel was to take possession of before long; and supplements the instructions in Num 35:14, with directions to maintain the roads to the cities of refuge which were to be set apart in…”