Deuteronomy 19:18-19

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 19:18

diligent. See note on Deuteronomy 13:14 . read more

Thomas Coke

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

Ver. 19. Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother— This law is exemplified in the story of Susannah and the elders; for the two elders, being convicted by Daniel of giving false accusation against Susannah, are condemned to undergo the same punishment which they intended against her; ver. 62. According to the law of Moses, they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour; and they put them to death. By the law of the twelve... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 19:14-21

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

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 19:15-21

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

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

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

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-21

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

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