Cities of Refuge Revisited Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19:2 "Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it."

The cities of refuge were a safe place for the innocent to flee to escape the rage of someone they may have killed by accident i.e. while working in the woods.

The guilty could also flee there but it was no refuge for them. They were to be brought back to face the law concerning intentional killings.

Two facts were important for the innocent: the killing was accidental and he did not hate the individual who was killed.

Likewise, the guilty was the reverse: the killing was on purpose and he hated the individual killed.

v4 "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;"

v11 "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;"

When the one guilty of premeditated murder flees to the city and he is found out he is to be brought back.

v12 "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."

There is to be firm witness against the guilty.

v15 "One 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."

Other discussion is made concerning the matter of two disagreeing to the point that it comes before the judges. If the accuser is found to be guilty of falsely accusing his brother, the accuser will suffer the same judgment as the one he accused. v15-21

So the day to day problems are addressed in the law so that there might be order in the land and that men fear the Lord.

v20 "And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall hence forth commit no more any such evil among you."

The judgment was as much a deterrent for the people as it was a punishment for the guilty.

The law was a very stern document. I find that the law was an outward force to direct the people while grace is an inward force that changes the heart and makes a person want to do right.

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. v4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever; for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."