Deuteronomy 19:1-13 - Dealing with Homicide in Ancient Israel

<p>     In our previous lessons we looked at God’s selection of authority figures—judges (Deut 16:18-17:8), priests (Deut 17:9-13; 18:1-8), kings (Deut 17:14-20), and prophets (Deut 18:15-22)—who were assigned to lead His people into righteous living (Deut 16:20). In this next section, we will consider how the nation was to practice righteous living after they entered the land of Canaan (Deut 19:1—26:19). In our current pericope on righteous living, Moses discussed cities of refuge and the role they played concerning Israelites who killed someone, either accidentally or intentionally (Deut 19:1-13). This section expands on the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (Deut 5:17).</p> <p>     Homicide is a reality that every society faces, whether the death caused was accidental or intentional. A just society must have laws in place to handle such matters, either to protect the innocent or punish the guilty. The consistent and fair application of these laws will mark a society as righteous. This was true in Israel where God expected His people to handle cases of homicide. The pericope under consideration was addressed by Moses to the first generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt (Ex 21:12-14; Num 35:9-34).</p> <p>     Moses opens the current discussion by saying, “When the LORD your God cuts off the nations, whose land the LORD your God gives you, and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set aside three cities for yourself in the midst of your land, which the LORD your God gives you to possess” (Deut 19:1-2). Here, Moses directed the Israelites to establish three cities of refuge after they had taken possession of the land under Joshua, and these would be added to the three cities Moses had already assigned east of the Jordan River; namely, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan (Deut 4:41-43). After Joshua led the Israelites into the land, he set aside the cities of Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron (Josh 20:7–9). Cities of refuge were places where a manslayer could flee for ref