Deuteronomy 19:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

It was one of the precepts given to the sons of Noah that whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed, that is, by the avenger of blood, Gen. 9:6. Now here we have the law settled between blood and blood, between the blood of the murdered and the blood of the murderer, and effectual provision made, I. That the cities of refuge should be a protection to him that slew another casually, so that he should not die for that as a crime which was not his voluntary act, but only his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:3

Thou shalt prepare thee a way ,.... A road, an highway to those cities: on the first of Adar, or February, the magistrates used to meet, and proclaimed, or ordered to be proclaimed, that the ways be repaired F18 Misn. Shekalim, c. 1. sect. 1. , particularly those leading to the cities of refuge; which was done by making them smooth and plain, so that there was not an hill or dale to be seen; and by building bridges over rivers and brooks, that he might escape who had killed anyone... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 19:3

Thou shalt prepare thee a way - The Jews inform us that the roads to the cities of refuge were made very broad, thirty-two cubits; and even, so that there should be no impediments in the way; and were constantly kept in good repair. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-10

The cities of refuge. The territory of Canaan was allotted to the Jews for this special end, that the principles of the heavenly kingdom might be practically unfolded on earth. In the Divine treatment of men, as members of the body politic, justice and mercy were to be harmoniously blended. Human life was uniformly treated as precious, but righteousness was revealed as more precious still. I. SEVERE INJURY TO MEN MAY BE WROUGHT SIMPLY BY THOUGHTLESS INADVERTENCE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

EXPOSITION LAWS CONCERNING CITIES OF REFUGE . LANDMARKS NOT TO BE REMOVED . LAWS CONCERNING WITNESSES . 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 land," on the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

The cities of refuge. The appointment of cities of refuge by Moses is of great interest, as yielding a study in Jehovah's ways of educating his people, and of giving light and truth to men. We will see— I. THE PLACE THIS INSTITUTION OCCUPIES IN HISTORY . £ So far as we are aware, there is nothing just now existing among civilized nations with which it is altogether analogous. The most recent regulations which seem to be a kind of reflection of it from afar, are those in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Cities of refuge. The institution of cities of refuge (cf. Deuteronomy 4:41-43 ) seems to have been peculiar to the legislation of Moses. It is an institution reflecting strong light on the wisdom, justice, and humanity of the Mosaic code. The system of blood revenging, while securing a rude kind of justice in communities where no proper means existed of bringing criminals to public trial, was liable to great abuses ( Deuteronomy 19:6 ). The usage was, however, too deeply rooted to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

The cities of refuge as types. Using the word in a popular and not in a theological sense, we may speak of them in this way. We have in the law ordaining them— I. A VIVID PICTURE OF THE DANGER OF THE SINNER . In certain points the contrast is stronger than the resemblance. 1. The manslayer might be guiltless of the crime imputed to him. His act may have been unintentional. He had in that case done nothing worthy of death ( Deuteronomy 19:6 ). To slay him would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:1-13

The cities of refuge. The blood-feud, as we know, was carried out remorselessly among nomadic nations, the manslayer having to be slain, even though his manslaying were purely accidental. In other words, there was no distinction made between manslaughter and murder by the nomadic nations in the rude early ages. But, by the Lord creating the cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan, to which the manslayer could repair, and where, if it was manslaughter only, he could remain... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:3

Thou shalt prepare thee a way. In the East, the roads were for the most part mere tracks made by the feet of animals used as beasts of burden or for traveling; and this continues to be the case in Palestine and many other parts of the East even at the present day. That roads, however, properly so called, were not unknown to the Hebrews, even in early times, is evident, not only from this passage, but also from Le 26:22; Numbers 20:17 ; Numbers 21:22 ; Deuteronomy 2:27 ; 1 Samuel 6:12 ... read more

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