Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Deuteronomy 19:1-13

[1] When the LORD  thy God  hath cut off  the nations,  whose land  the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee, and thou succeedest  them, and dwellest  in their cities,  and in their houses;  [2] Thou shalt separate  three  cities  for thee in the midst  of thy land,  which the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee to possess  it. [3] Thou shalt prepare  thee a way,  and divide the coasts  of thy land,  which the LORD  thy God  giveth thee to inherit,  into three parts,  that every slayer  may flee  thither. [4] And this is the case  of the slayer,  which shall flee  thither, that he may live:  Whoso killeth  his neighbour  ignorantly,  whom he hated  not in time  past;  [5] As when a man goeth  into the wood  with his neighbour  to hew  wood,  and his hand  fetcheth a stroke  with the axe  to cut down  the tree,  and the head  slippeth  from the helve,  and lighteth  upon his neighbour,  that he die;  he shall flee  unto one  of those cities,  and live:  [6] Lest the avenger  of the blood  pursue  the slayer,  while  his heart  is hot,  and overtake  him, because the way  is long,  and slay  him;  whereas he was not worthy  of death,  inasmuch as  he hated  him not in time  past.  [7] Wherefore I command  thee, saying,  Thou shalt separate  three  cities  for thee. [8] And if the LORD  thy God  enlarge  thy coast,  as he hath sworn  unto thy fathers,  and give  thee all the land  which he promised  to give  unto thy fathers;  [9] If thou shalt keep  all these commandments  to do  them, which I command  thee this day,  to love  thy God,  ever  in his ways;  then shalt thou add  three  cities  more for thee, beside these three:  [10] That innocent  blood  be not shed  in  thy land,  which the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee for an inheritance,  and so blood  be upon thee. [11] But if any man  hate  his neighbour,  and lie in wait  for him, and rise up  against him, and smite  him mortally  that he die,  and fleeth  into one  of these  cities:  [12] Then the elders  of his city  shall send  and fetch  him thence, and deliver  him into the hand  of the avenger  of blood,  that he may die.  [13] Thine eye  shall not pity  him, but thou shalt put away  the guilt of innocent  blood  from Israel,  with thee.

What does Deuteronomy 19:1-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God 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 provision of cities of refuge taught the Israelites how important life is to God. The cities of refuge were conceptually extensions of the altar in the tabernacle courtyard as places of asylum. [1]
"The extension of the power of Israel to the Euphrates under David and Song of Solomon , did not bring the land as far as this river into their actual possession, since the conquered kingdoms of Aram were still inhabited by the Aramaeans, who, though conquered, were only rendered tributary. And the Tyrians and Phoenicians, who belonged to the Canaanitish population, were not even attacked by David." [2]
There is no indication in the Bible that the Israelites ever set aside this third set of three cities of refuge ( Deuteronomy 19:8-9). If they did not, it may have been because they never secured the full extent of the Promised Land.