Deuteronomy 19:4-13

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 19:4

And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live ,.... It was not any slayer that might have protection in these cities, but such who were thus and thus circumstanced, or whose case was as follows: whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly ; without intention, as the Targum of Jonathan, did not design it, but was done by him unawares: whom he hated not in time past ; had never shown by words or deeds that he had any hatred of him or enmity to him three days... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:5

As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood ,.... A wood is a place common to men, and cutting down wood a business which any man might do; whereas a private place, where a man had no right to be, and doing what he had no business with, rendered a case suspicious, and such a man was liable to be taken up when any affair happened of the kind here spoken of; so the Jewish writers observe F20 Misn. Maccot, c. 2. sect. 2. ,"a wood is a public place for him that hurts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:6

Lest the avenger of blood pursue the slayer ,.... These words are to be connected with Deuteronomy 19:3 , where it is ordered to prepare the way to the cities of refuge, and to divide the land into three parts, for the convenience of the slayer to flee thither, lest he that was next of kin, and incensed against the slayer, and determined to avenge what was done, should pursue after him: while his heart is hot ; by reason of the loss of his relation, upon which his passions being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:7

Wherefore I command thee, saying, thou shalt separate three cities for thee. This was to be done immediately, as soon as they were settled in the land of Canaan, and established in the possession of it, the inhabitants being cut off, or driven out, or however subdued. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:8

And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast ,.... Extend it further than it was upon their first settlement, even carry it as far as the river Euphrates, as in the times of Solomon, 1 Kings 4:21 . Jarchi interprets it of such an enlargement as to give them the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites and Kadmonites: (as he hath sworn unto thy fathers), and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy, fathers : Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; see Genesis 15:19 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:9

If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day ,.... A phrase often met with before, and signifies the putting in practice the several laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which Moses was now making a repetition of, and enjoining the observance of them by a divine authority: to love the Lord thy God ; which is the source and spring of genuine obedience to the commands of God: and to walk ever in his ways ; noting constancy and perseverance in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:10

That innocent blood be not shed ,.... As it would be if such a slayer as before described was killed by the avenger of blood, before he could get to one of these cities of refuge, or supposing that they had not bean appointed, or a sufficient number of them: which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance ; to be enjoyed by them and their children after them, provided they did not defile it by their sins, but observed the commands of the Lord to obey them and so blood be upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:11

But if any man hate his neighbour ,.... Has conceived enmity in his heart against him, bears him a mortal hatred, and has formed a scheme in his mind to take away his life: and lie in wait for him knowing and expecting he will come by in such a way at such a time: and rise up against him ; out of the place where he lay in wait, just at the time he is passing by: and smite him mortally that he die ; or smite him in soul or life F26 נפש , "anima", Montanus, Vatablus. ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:12

Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence ,.... The Targum of Jonathan is,"the wise men of his city,'the sanhedrim, or court of judicature, or at least the civil magistrates of that city, to which such a murderer belonged, had a power to send to the city of refuge whither he was fled, and demand the delivering of him up to them, that his case might be tried before them, and it might appear whether he was a proper person to receive the benefit of the city of refuge or not,... read more

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