Deuteronomy 19:8

_AND IF THE LORD THY GOD ENLARGE THY COAST, AS HE HATH SWORN UNTO THY FATHERS, AND GIVE THEE ALL THE LAND WHICH HE PROMISED TO GIVE UNTO THY FATHERS;_ And if the Lord ... enlarge thy coast. Three additional sanctuaries were to be established in the event of their territory extending over the country from Hermon and Gilead to the Euphrates (see the notes at Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31). But it was obscurely hinted that this last provision would never be carried into effect, as the Israelites could not fulfill the conditions-namely, 'that of keeping the commandments, to love the Lord, and walk ever in his ways.' In point of fact, although that region was brought into subjection by David and Solomon, we do not find that cities of refuge were established, because those sovereigns only m

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

AND IF THE LORD THY GOD ENLARGE THY COAST,.... Extend it further than it was upon their first settlement, even carry it as far as the river Euphrates, as in the times of Solomon, 1 Kings 4:21. Jarchi interprets it of such an enlargement as to give them the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites and Kadmonites: (AS HE HATH SWORN UNTO THY FATHERS), AND GIVE THEE ALL THE LAND WHICH HE PROMISED TO GIVE UNTO THY, FATHERS: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; see Genesis 15:19....

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

AS. according as....

_enlarge thy border_ See on Deuteronomy 12:20, and the introd. to this law. _as he hath sworn_, etc.] See on Deuteronomy 1:8. _and give thee … thy fathers_ Redundant after previous clause, and (though confirmed by LXX B and other Codd.) probably not original, Luc. omits. The readings here differ much in the versions and their Codd. shewing how readily scribes altered and expanded the text....

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....