15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity—The following rules to regulate the admission of testimony in public courts are founded on the principles of natural justice. A single witness shall not be admitted to the condemnation of an accused person. :-. PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. read more
Witnesses 19:14-21The previous pericope alluded to the need for witnesses, and this one explains their role. A common cause of hostility between individuals that sometimes led to homicide was a failure to agree on common boundaries and to respect property rights (cf. 1 Kings 21:1-26; 1 Kings 22:37-38). [Note: Kaufman, p. 137.] In the ancient world boundary markers protected the property rights of individuals (Deuteronomy 19:14). Many nations as well as Israel regarded them as sacred. Stones... read more
The Cities of Refuge. Punishment of Deceit and False Witness1-13. On the Cities of Refuge see Numbers 35:9-34 and notes there. 2. In the midst of thy land] Those on the E. side of the Jordan have already been assigned: see on Deuteronomy 4:41-43. 3. Prepare thee a way] It was the duty of the Sanhedrim, or chief council of the Jews, to maintain the roads to these cities in good repair, and to have finger-posts where necessary with the words ’Refuge, Refuge’ inscribed upon them, so as to afford... read more
Deuteronomy 19:15-21. FALSE TESTIMONY.The law of retaliation is sternly laid down here; but it must be administered by the judges, not by men acting on their own behalf.(17) Both the men . . . shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges.—This appears to mean that all cases of suspected false testimony were to go before the supreme court (see Deuteronomy 17:9); that the matter was not to be lightly decided.(21) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.—This is to be effected by the award... read more
THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF ISRAELITE LIFEIT has often and justly been said that the life of Israel is so entirely founded on the grace and favor of God that no distinction is made between the secular and the religious laws. Whatever their origin may have been, whether they had been part of the tribal constitution before Moses’ day or not, they were all regarded as Divinely given. They had been accepted as fit building stones for the great edifice of that national life in which God was to reveal... read more
15. Laws for Israel in the Land CHAPTER 19 1. Concerning the cities of refuge (Deuteronomy 19:1-13 ) 2. Removing a landmark (Deuteronomy 19:14 ) 3. The punishment of a false witness (Deuteronomy 19:15-21 ) Here again we have not a repetition of the previous law concerning the cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9-34 ), but an earnest admonition to be obedient to those laws. The three cities on the east of Jordan were named in chapter 4. Here the other three in the midst of the land are in... read more
CITIES OF REFUGE (vs.1-13) We have seen in Deuteronomy 4:41-43 that Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan as cities of refuge. Now Moses gives instructions to Israel that, when God should cut off the nations of the land and Israel was established there, they should separate three cities on that side of Jordan, each in a distinct area, as cities of refuge (vs.1-2). They were to divide the land into three parts on that side of Jordan, with roads that would be helpful in denoting the... read more
FURTHER CONDITIONS OF BLESSING THE JUDGE AND THE KING (Deuteronomy 17:0 ) In the preceding chapter, Deuteronomy 16:18 , provision was made for judges and other officers of the civil law. They were to hold court in the gates of the cities, the place of ingress and egress, for the cities were walled. This idea of judges sitting in the gates still lingers in the Orient and gives significance to the Mohammedan terms Ottoman Porte and Sublime Porte. Review the preceding chapter and observe the... read more
Divinely-provided Refuge Deuteronomy 19:0 When a blessing has been conferred a duty is to follow. This would seem to be the method of the divine kingdom. That kingdom does not consist wholly of blessing, sentiment, ease, and honour; the kingdom of God is a kingdom of duty and discipline, calling upon its possessors to be faithful and gracious, to obey certain commandments, and to hold the kingdom feudally, not as of right, but as from the Lord, to whom an account must be rendered. Whenever the... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Deuteronomy 19:15
"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing, then both the men between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days; and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and, behold, if... read more