Deuteronomy 19:2

_THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES FOR THEE IN THE MIDST OF THY LAND, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE TO POSSESS IT._ THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES ... IN THE MIDST OF THY LAND. Go'elism, or the duty of the nearest kinsman to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, being the consuetudinary 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 (Deuteronomy 4:41; Numbers 35:11); three were to be invested with the same privilege on the west of that river when Canaan should be conquered. "In the midst of thy land" - in such a position that the

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....

Verse Deuteronomy 19:2. _THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES_] Numbers 35:11, c....

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

THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES FOR THEE IN THE MIDST OF THY LAND,.... From the cities they took possession of and dwelt in; and indeed from the cities of the Levites, which were given to them to inhabit; three were before ordered to be separated from those inhabited by the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 4:41 but these were to be in the midst of the land of Canaan; see Joshua 20:7, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE TO POSSESS IT: which as it is often mentioned when this land is spoken of, so it carries in it a reason here why this order of the Lord's should be readily complied with, the whole land and all the cities of it being the gift of his to them....

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

THREE CITIES. Compare Numbers 35:14....

contain several formulas. On _shall cut off_, etc., see Deuteronomy 12:29; on _whose land the Lord thy God_ IS TO GIVE _thee_and _giveth thee to possess it_, see Deuteronomy 18:9; on _succeed_(dispossess), see Deuteronomy 12:29; on _causeth thee to inherit_, see Deuteronomy 1:38....

_VER._ 2. _IN THE MIDST OF THY LAND_— Rather, _within thy land,_ as appears from the next verse. The land was to be divided into three parts; and a city of refuge to be set apart in each, in the most convenient place for those to flee to, who should be so unhappy as to stand in need of an asylum....