the Third Week after Easter
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Thai King James Bible
พระบัญญัติ 19:4
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- InternationalBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the slayer: Deuteronomy 4:42, Numbers 35:15-24
in time past: Heb. from yesterday the third day, Deuteronomy 19:6, Genesis 31:2, Joshua 3:4, 1 Chronicles 11:2, Isaiah 30:33, *marg.
Reciprocal: Exodus 21:13 - lie not Leviticus 4:2 - through Numbers 35:11 - unawares Deuteronomy 17:8 - between blood 2 Samuel 14:11 - the revengers 2 Kings 13:5 - beforetime Philippians 3:9 - be
Gill's Notes on the Bible
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 ago; so that if there were no marks of hatred, or proofs of it three days before this happened, it was reckoned an accidental thing, and not done on purpose, as this phrase is usually interpreted; see Exodus 21:29.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
This and the next two chapters contain enactments designed to protect human life, and to impress its sanctity on Israel.
In Deuteronomy 19:1-13 the directions respecting the preparation of the roads to the cities of refuge, the provision of additional cities in case of an extension of territory, and the intervention of the elders as representing the congregation, are unique to Deuteronomy and supplementary to the laws on the same subject given in the earlier books (compare the marginal reference).
Deuteronomy 19:1, Deuteronomy 19:2
The three cities of refuge for the district east of Jordan had been already named. Moses now directs that when the territory on the west of Jordan had been conquered, a like allotment of three other cities in it should be made. This was accordingly done; compare Joshua 20:1 ff,
Deuteronomy 19:3
Thou shalt prepare thee a way - It was the duty of the Senate to repair the roads that led to the cities of refuge annually, and remove every obstruction. No hillock was left, no river over which there was not a bridge; and the road was at least 32 cubits broad. At cross-roads there were posts bearing the words Refuge, Refuge, to guide the fugitive in his flight. It seems as if in Isaiah 40:3 ff the imagery were borrowed from the preparation of the ways to the cities of refuge.
Deuteronomy 19:5
With the axe - literally, “with the iron.” Note the employment of iron for tools, and compare Deuteronomy 3:11 note.
Deuteronomy 19:8, Deuteronomy 19:9
Provision is here made for the anticipated enlargement of the borders of Israel to the utmost limits promised by God, from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18, note; Exodus 23:31, note). This promise, owing to the sins of the people, did not receive its fulfillment until after David had conquered the Philistines, Syrians, etc.; and this but a transient one, for many of the conquered peoples regained independence on the dissolution of Solomon’s empire.