Deuteronomy 19:13

_THAT INNOCENT BLOOD BE NOT SHED IN THY LAND, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE, AND SO BLOOD BE UPON THEE._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-13 Here is the law settled between the blood of the murdered, and the blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the cities of refuge should be a protection, so that a man should not die for that as a crime, which was not his willing act. In Christ, the Lord our Righteousness, refuge is provided for those who by faith flee unto him. But there is no refuge in Jesus Christ for presumptuous sinners, who go on still in their trespasses. Those who flee to Christ from their sins, shall be safe in him, but not those who expect to be sheltered by him in their sins....

This and the next two chapters contain enactments designed to protect human life, and to impress its sanctity on Israel. In Deuteronomy 19:1 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 be

EXPOSITION LAWS CONCERNING CITIES OF REFUGE. LANDMARKS NOT TO BE REMOVED. LAWS CONCERNING WITNESSES. DEUTERONOMY 19:1 Moses had before this enunciated the law concerning cities of refuge for manslayers, and had already pointed out the cities on the east of the Jordan that were to be set apart for this (Numbers 35:11, etc.; Deuteronomy 4:41, etc.), he here repeats the law with special reference to the appointment of such cities "in the midst of the

THINE EYE SHALL NOT PITY HIM,.... This is not said to the avenger of blood, who is not to be supposed to have any pity or compassion on such a person, but to the elders, judges, and civil magistrates of the city to which he belonged, who took cognizance of his case; these were to show him no favour on account of his being a citizen, a neighbour, a relation or friend, or a rich man, or on any account whatever; but without favour or affection were to judge him and put him to death as a murderer; see Numbers 35:21, BUT THOU SHALL PUT AWAY THE GUILT OF INNOCENT BLOOD FROM ISRAEL; by which they would be defiled, and be liable to punishment for it; see Numbers 35:33, the Targum of Jonathan is, "shall put away those that shed innocent blood out of Israel;''...

The cities of refuge (lit. of reception, Numbers 35:12 P) were in criminal law the substitute for the local, now disestablished, sanctuaries, each sanctuary in ancient times affording temporary protection for criminals whose guilt was not obvious (Numbers 35*, Joshua 20*). British churches have served the same purpose, (_cf._ the Sanctuary Knocker of Durham Cathedral and Frithstool of Beverley Minster and of Hexham Abbey). Blood revenge was the police of the primitive Aryan and Semitic peoples, and it needed such restraint as the law of asylum supplied. For the earlier law, see Exodus 21:12 * (JE), and for the later, Numbers 35 and Joshua 20:1 (both P). The need for this law arose through the operation of the principle of o

PUT AWAY,. C. See note on Deuteronomy 13:5....

Only by such action on the part of the local authorities and the kinsmen of the murdered man can the guilt of the crime be removed from the whole nation. To this extent the ancient custom of the vendetta is recognised as part of the theocratic system. _thou shalt put away_ See on Deuteronomy 13:5 (6). _that it may go well with thee_ Another recurrent phrase; Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 5:29, etc. _Additional Note_: The Vendetta, -the one element of jurisprudence in the wild life of the desert," springs from, the simple principle of blood for blood, still valid in the la

LESSON FIFTEEN DEUTERONOMY 19:1-21; DEUTERONOMY 21:1-9 f. THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY (Deuteronomy 19:1-21; Deuteronomy 21:1-9) (1) CONCERNING MURDER (Deuteronomy 19:1-13; Deuteronomy 21:1-9) (a) The Cities of Refuge (Deuteronomy 19:1-13) When Jehovah thy God sh

THE CITIES OF REFUGE. PUNISHMENT OF DECEIT AND FALSE WITNESS 1-13. On the Cities of Refuge see Numbers 35:9 and notes there....