Deuteronomy 19

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 19

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;

2Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

3Thou 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.

4And 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;

5As 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:

6Lest 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.

7Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

8And 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;

9If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

10That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance, and [so] blood be upon thee.

11But 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:

12Then 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.

13Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away [the guilt of] innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

14¶ Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

15One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

16If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him [that which is] wrong;

17Then both the men, between whom the controversy [is], shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

18And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, [if] the witness [be] a false witness, [and] hath testified falsely against his brother;

19Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

20And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

21And thine eye shall not pity; [but] life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 19 establishes laws for justice in the promised land, primarily concerning cities of refuge. These cities are designated to protect individuals who accidentally kill their neighbour from the avenger of blood, while ensuring that premeditated murderers face execution. The chapter also prohibits moving ancient property landmarks and mandates that legal matters be established by two or three witnesses. Furthermore, it prescribes that false witnesses receive the same penalty they intended for the accused, upholding the principle of proportionate justice.

Medium Summary

Deuteronomy 19 outlines crucial legal provisions for Israel upon entering Canaan, beginning with the command to establish three cities of refuge. These cities are to be easily accessible, providing a sanctuary for those who unintentionally cause a neighbour's death, thereby protecting them from immediate retribution by the avenger of blood. This system clearly distinguishes between accidental manslaughter and deliberate murder; premeditated killers are to be delivered from the city of refuge for execution, ensuring the land is purged of innocent blood. The chapter also forbids the removal of established property landmarks, emphasizing respect for boundaries. Moreover, it stipulates that any legal accusation must be confirmed by the testimony of at least two or three witnesses. A detailed judicial process is outlined for false witnesses, who are to suffer the very penalty they intended for the accused, serving as a deterrent and removing evil from the community. The chapter concludes by affirming the principle of proportionate justice, stating "life for life, eye for eye."

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 19 provides a comprehensive framework for justice and legal integrity within the land Israel is to inherit. It begins by instructing the establishment of three cities of refuge, strategically located and easily accessible, to serve as havens for individuals who accidentally cause the death of a neighbour, such as an axe head slipping during woodcutting. This provision protects the unintentional slayer from the immediate retribution of the avenger of blood, ensuring they are not unjustly slain. The text explicitly differentiates between accidental death and premeditated murder; if a man harboured hatred and deliberately killed his neighbour, he is to be removed from the city of refuge by the elders and delivered to the avenger for execution, with no pity shown, to purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel. The chapter also includes a conditional command to add three more cities of refuge should the LORD enlarge Israel's territory, contingent upon their obedience to His commandments. Beyond matters of life and death, the chapter prohibits the removal of ancient landmarks, emphasizing respect for established property boundaries. Crucially, it mandates that no single witness can establish guilt; rather, a matter must be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. A detailed judicial process is outlined for cases involving a false witness: both parties are to stand before the priests and judges, who must conduct a diligent inquiry. If a witness is found to have testified falsely, they are to suffer the very penalty they intended for their brother, serving as a deterrent and removing evil from the community. The chapter concludes by affirming the principle of "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," underscoring a system of proportionate retribution in judicial rulings.

Core Concepts

  • Cities of RefugeDesignated cities established to provide a safe haven for individuals who accidentally cause the death of another, protecting them from the immediate vengeance of the deceased's kinsman.
  • Accidental ManslaughterThe unintentional killing of a person, distinguished from premeditated murder, for which the slayer could find protection in a city of refuge rather than facing immediate execution.
  • Premeditated MurderThe deliberate killing of a person, for which the perpetrator was to be delivered from the city of refuge to the avenger of blood and executed, without pity, to purge guilt from the land.
  • Landmark IntegrityThe prohibition against removing ancient property markers, emphasizing the importance of respecting established boundaries and inherited land rights.
  • Witness RequirementThe legal principle that a matter or accusation must be established by the testimony of at least two or three witnesses, preventing conviction based on single, uncorroborated testimony.
  • False Witness PunishmentThe judicial consequence for a witness found to have testified falsely, wherein they were to receive the same punishment they intended to bring upon the accused.
  • Lex TalionisThe principle of proportionate justice, expressed as "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth," ensuring that retribution in legal judgments matched the severity of the offense.