Deuteronomy 4:41

_THEN MOSES SEVERED THREE CITIES ON THIS SIDE JORDAN TOWARD THE SUNRISING;_ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan - (see the notes at Numbers 35:6; Joshua 20:7)....

God had destined, as we have before seen, (221) six cities for refuge, in case any one had killed a man, provided he could prove his innocence before the judges. As to the three which He had appointed on the other side of Jordan, Moses records that he had faithfully performed what God had commanded. Hence it appears that, although he could not immediately comply with God’s command to its full extent, still he did not wait until the three other cities could be added; but that, as far as circumstances permitted, he discharged his duty. Hence let us learn that, even when we cannot at once entirely carry out what God commands us to do, we are still to be by no means idle. For nothing but sheer laziness stands in our way, unless we speedily commence at God’s command what it is His will to finish and accomplish by the hands of others....

41-49 Here is the introduction to another discourse, or sermon, Moses preached to Israel, which we have in the following chapters. He sets the law before them, as the rule they were to work by, the way they were to walk in. He sets it before them, as the glass in which they were to see their natural face, that, looking into this perfect law of liberty, they might continue therein. These are the laws, given when Israel was newly come out of Egypt; and they were now repeated. Moses gave these laws in charge, while they encamped over against Beth-peor, an idol place of the Moabites. Their present triumphs were a powerful argument for obedience. And we should understand our own situation as sinners, and the nature of that gracious covenant to which we are invited. Therein greater things are shown to us than ever Israel saw from mount Sinai; greater mercies are given to us than they experien...

Verse Deuteronomy 4:41. _THEN MOSES SEVERED THREE CITIES_] See the law relative to the cities of refuge explained, Numbers 35:11, c....

These verses are inserted between two distinct and complete discourses for the reason to which they themselves call attention (“Then Moses severed three cities,” etc.); i. e., the fact narrated took place historically after Moses spoke the one discourse and before he delivered the other. In thus severing the three cities of refuge Moses carried out a previous command of God (see the marginal references); and so followed up his exhortations to obedience by setting a punctual example of it, as far as opportunity was given him. Deuteronomy 4:43 IN THE PLAIN COUNTRY - literally, “in the land of the Mishor.” The word means a level tract of land; but when used (Deuteronomy 3:10;...

EXPOSITION DEUTERONOMY 4:25-5 Moses enforces the warning against idolatry, by predicting the evil that should come upon the nation through the apostasy of those who should in after times turn from Jehovah to strange gods. When they should have begotten children and children's children, and had been long in the land, _i_._e_._ _when in after years a generation should arise that had not known the things they had seen, or had forgotten them (Deuteronomy 4:9), and the nation should then become wanton and corrupt, and fall into idolatry (cf. Deuteronomy 6:10, etc.; D

THEN MOSES SEVERED THREE CITIES,.... To be cities of refuge, according to the command of God, Numbers 35:14 this he did when he had conquered the two kingdoms of the Amorites, that God had given them for an inheritance to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 4:38 though Jarchi says, and so other Jewish writers, that persons were not received into them until the three cities appointed in the land of Canaan were separated for the like use; Numbers 35:14 and these were, ON THIS SIDE JORDAN, TOWARD THE RISING SUN; on that side of the river on which the plains of Moab lay, and the kingdoms of the Amorites, and to the east of Jordan: so Jarchi remarks,

4. THE THREE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 4:41-43 _ 1. The cities set apart (Deuteronomy 4:41)_ 2. The cities named (Deuteronomy 4:43) The first address being ended, an action of Moses takes place. To detect here the hand of an editor, who added these verses, as critics claim, cannot be sustained. The cities of refuge were mentioned in Numbers. Here the three on this side of Jordan are given. Then there were three more on the other side of which we read in chapter 19 and in the book of Joshua. As stated in our annotations in Numbers, the cities of refuge are typical of Christ, who is our shelter from the avenger. Scattered through the land for the gracious purpose of sheltering the slayer, they also bear a prophetic testimony. They speak of Israel's hope. “Thes

THEN. Emphatic, marking the end of his first address. MOSES. Change to third person, not because it is now editorial, but because the first direct address is ended. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1. SEVERED. separated. Compare Exodus 21:13.Numbers 35:6....

_Then Moses separated_ Rather, SET APART. In Deuteronomy 10:8 the verb is used of God's solemn separation of Levi to bear the ark, etc., and in Deuteronomy 29:21 (20) of the idolater to evil. The form of the verb here has the force of _began_, or _proceeded_, to set apart. _three cities_ On the number, and its contradiction of Deuteronomy 19:1 ff., see above, note introductory to this fragment. _beyond Jordan_ As in Deuteronomy 1:1 the writer writes in W. Palestine. This is put past doubt by the additional clause, _toward the sunrising_, cf....