Deuteronomy 19:1-20:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 19:1

Deuteronomy 19:1. From enforcing the laws enacted against idolatry, and calculated to preserve and promote the purity of divine worship, Moses now proceeds to inculcate some important duties belonging to the second table, but not in any exact order, nor without interspersing some precepts respecting ceremonial matters. He begins with some regulations appointed to secure the preservation of the most important part of the property of a fellow- creature, his life. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

Justice for the accused (19:1-21)Three cities of refuge had already been established east of Jordan (see 4:41-43), and three more were to be established west of Jordan (19:1-2). In each of these two regions one city was to be in the north, one in the centre and one in the south, so that a city of refuge was within easy reach of every person in the land, no matter where he lived. All six cities had to have well marked roads leading to them so that the refugee could reach safety quickly (3-7; see... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 19:1

When. Compare Numbers 35:10 , Numbers 35:11 . succeedeth = dispossessest. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Deuteronomy 19:1

There are three paragraphs in this chapter: Deuteronomy 19:1-13 deals with homicide and the provisions for cities of refuge; next is a very short paragraph of a single verse (Deuteronomy 19:14) regarding boundary markers; and Deuteronomy 19:15-21 are devoted to the subject of witnesses."When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; thou shalt set apart three cities for thee in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 19:1

Ver. 1. When the Lord thy God, &c.— Moses, having pressed upon the people the great commandment of loving God with all the heart, now proceeds to remind them of other precepts belonging to the second table, though not in an exact manner, nor without interspersing some ceremonial matters. He begins with what concerns that principal part of our neighbour's property, his life. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 19:1-8

6. Laws arising from the sixth commandment 19:1-22:8The sixth commandment is, "You shall not murder" (Deuteronomy 5:17). The representative laws in this chapter all protected people who were vulnerable for one reason or another. Civil law is in view. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Manslaughter 19:1-13God revealed the law concerning how the Israelites were to deal with manslayers earlier (cf. Numbers 35:9-34). In Israel this kind of crime was a domestic rather than a law court matter; families were to deal with it rather than the courts. The instructions given here urge application of this law and explain the need for three more cities of refuge west of the Jordan River. Moses had already designated three towns on the east side of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 4:41-43). The... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Deuteronomy 19:1-13. THE CITIES OF REFUGE.(See for more on this subject, Numbers 35:9, &c.; Joshua 20:0) (1) When the Lord thy God hath cut off the nations.—We find that the three cities of refuge on the west of Jordan were appointed by Joshua after the conquest (Joshua 20:0). The first three on the east of Jordan, namely, Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan, had already been selected by Moses (Deuteronomy 4:41, &c), but Joshua assigned them to their Levitical possessors.(3) Thou shalt... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

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

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