Deuteronomy 19:14-21 - Property Rights and Eyewitness Testimony

<p>     In our current section on case laws (Deut 19:1—26:19), we are considering how the nation of ancient Israel was to practice righteous living after they entered the land of Canaan (Deut 16:20), and how righteousness was measured by conformity to God’s laws (Deut 6:24-25). In our current pericope on righteous living, Moses discusses property theft as well as the importance of legitimate witnesses in legal trials. In Deuteronomy 19:14, Moses expands on the eighth commandment, “You shall not steal” (Deut 5:19), and the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet” (Deut 5:21). And in Deuteronomy 19:15-21, Moses expands on the ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Deut 5:20). If Israel would obey these laws, it would reflect God’s righteous expectations for them.</p> <p>     Having discussed the need for cities of refuge in the previous pericope (Deut 19:1-13), Moses briefly turns to property rights and the need to protect boundaries. His mention of cities and roads refer to land (Deut 19:2-3), which might suggest why Moses inserts a comment about personal property. Moses said, “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess” (Deut 19:14). Solomon twice repeated this directive, saying, “Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set” (Prov 22:28), and “Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless, 11 for their redeemer [גָּאַל gaal] is strong; he will plead their case against you” (Prov 23:10-11). This latter verse shows how the fatherless—or anyone who is weak—were vulnerable to exploitation and how God cared about their rights.</p> <p>     To move a boundary mark was to steal land from one’s neighbor (Deut 5:19), which theft was predicated on coveting your neighbor’s property (Deut 5:21). There was also a curse pronounced on one who moved a boundary mark (Deut 27:17). Under the Mosaic Law, property th