Deuteronomy 19:3

_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._ Thou shalt prepare thee a way. The roads leading to them were to be kept in good condition, and the brooks or rivers to be spanned by good bridges; the width of the roads was to be 32 cubits; and at all the cross-roads sign-posts were to be erected with the words, Mekeleth, Mekeleth-`refuge, refuge,' painted on them. DIVIDE THE COASTS OF THY LAND ... INTO THREE PARTS - the whole extent of the country from the south to the north. The three cities on each side of Jordan were opposite to each other "as two rows of vines in a vineyard" (see the notes at Joshua 20:7)....

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 19:3. _THOU SHALT PREPARE THEE A WAY_] The Jews inform us that the roads to the cities of refuge were made very broad, thirty-two cubits; and even, so that there should be no impediments in the way; and were constantly kept in good repair....

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 PREPARE THEE A WAY,.... A road, an highway to those cities: on the first of Adar, or February, the magistrates used to meet, and proclaimed, or ordered to be proclaimed, that the ways be repaired r, particularly those leading to the cities of refuge; which was done by making them smooth and plain, so that there was not an hill or dale to be seen; and by building bridges over rivers and brooks, that he might escape who had killed anyone through mistake, and not be hindered, lest the avenger of blood should overtake him and kill him s; and therefore every obstruction was removed out of the way, that there might be a clear course for him; and at the parting of ways, or where two or more ways met, that he might not be at a loss one moment which way to take, "refuge" was written, as Jarchi and other writers observe, upon posts or pillars erected for that purpose: Numbers 35:6,...

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

COASTS. borders, or confines....

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._ 3. _THOU SHALT PREPARE THEE A WAY,_ &C.— The Jewish rulers added a number of other laws for keeping those roads in continual repair, that the person might meet with no obstruction in his flight. These roads, according to them, were to be thirty-two cubits in breadth, smooth and plain. At every place where the road parted, a post was to be set up to direct him, which had the word מקלט _miklat,_ REFUGE, engraven upon it. Every brook or river was to have a good bridge; all watery places were to be drained, and the surface kept smooth and hard. Once a year, at least, in the month of _Adar,_ which answers in part to our _February,_ the magistrates of every city were obliged to visit them, and see that they were kept in good order; otherwise, in case the avenger chanced to overtake and kill the slayer, the magistracy of the place were adjudged guilty of his death. As for the cities of r...