Deuteronomy

Chapter 19

"Civil Law, Persons, Manslayer (murder) [1-13]."
"Witnesses, True and False [14-21]."

 This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription/ location
is provided by
http://www.theseason.org/plough.htm

Deuteronomy 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;"

This chapter has to do with civil law, and subjects here has to do with murder; the witnesses and the punishment of that murderer. A murderer is someone that deliberately lies in wait to take a life, he is not someone that accidentally takes a life. God make the difference very clear, and it is just plain common sense.

God is telling these children of Israel that when I clear the land of the heathen, kill them and chase them away, I will make it safe for you to move in. When God leads you into a place, He will make that place safe for you when you are in His care. He does it when you have faith in Him. The subject in this verse is that when you move into these nation, and even our nation today, this is what you shall do.

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."

So why would God bring up these three cities? Three in biblical numerics is "completeness". These three cities will make it completely accessible to all areas of the land for those that must flee for their safety of their lives. These cities are called "cities of refuge", for those that must go to these cities are fleeing for their lives after they have been involved in an accident.

Deuteronomy 19:3 "Thou shall 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."

In the Hebrew text, many times the subject is given before the qualification. This is kind of the reverse to our English. So don't set in your mind that God set aside these three cities so that all slayers must flee there. The qualifier for using these cities by those who shall flee there will come later. It is pointed out in Numbers 35:6 that on the east side of the Jordan three cities have already been set aside for the three tribes of Manasseh, Gad, and Reuben that have been given their tribal areas over there.

Numbers 35:6 "And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities."

As the expansion comes and more territory is added to the nation of Israel, more cities were required to be added. So on the east side of Jordan, the number is three, with three more added after the west side of the Jordan is taken. Then God said that when you travel on, in the far future to other lands, the number will be expanded to forty two cities. These tribes have traveled many miles in the past thirty five hundred years, and they have scattered throughout the world. However, spiritually you miss the whole thing if you slide over biblical numerics.

It was forty two generations from Abraham to Christ, and the number forty two directs us to Christ's first advent. This is saying then, that until Christ come at His second advent you will do it this way. God is telling the children of Israel that this will be the law of your land as it pertains to murder.

Deuteronomy 19:4 "And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past."

We are now going to qualify what a "slayer" is. This "slayer" is the one that meets the requirements for seeking refuge in one of these cities of refuge. "In time past", as stated here in the Hebrew text is, "all time before yesterday, the third day". The part here that is important is "the third day" for many times people have hard feelings at the time, and after a night or two to sleep on the matter they resolve their problems. The matter here is that the squabble between the two was allowed to go on and fester into outright hatred for one another. So we see that if they made up and are getting along real good with each other after their fight for three nights, that accident cannot be taken into account when there is another accident.

If a man comes home some winter night, and while the neighbor is crossing the street a car hits a patch of ice and kills the neighbor, the neighbors death is an accident. We have thousands of accidents each year in our land. Today this would not take the charge of murder, but manslaughter, and it is not a charge that demands death by God. It becomes an innocent accident. So this is what these cities were set aside for, to provide a place of refuge from the next of kin that would seek to kill him for that innocent act.

Deuteronomy 19:5 "As 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, and he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:"

This takes us into another analogy to this situation. A man is going to the woods with his neighbor to chop firewood for their stoves. They both have axes. The one man is swinging away with his axe, and the head of the axe slips off the handle, and lighteth in the neighbor's head and kills him. So that man's life has been taken by the neighbor which were the best of friends, and it was an accident. This is also what these cities of refuge were for.

Deuteronomy 19:6 "Lest 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."

The one that has accidentally killed this neighbor must leave immediately. Leave before the "avenger of the blood", the next of kin can act while he or she has a burning temper to avenge the death of their loved one. If those cities are a long way away, the avenger may over take this neighbor that had the accident and kill him. This is why these cities are to be many, scattered out and convenient to reach. Remember, "as he hated him not in time past", over the period of the last three days revenge grew in the kin's mind. God is giving repentance to man in carrying out the protection for this accidental death.

When someone abuses your next of kin to the point of their death, the next time you see that person your thoughts may be to get even with him or her for that death, and to kill him. That is the purpose of the cities of refuge, to remove that possibility for their sight. It is as much for the protection of the next of kin as for the slayer, for an act in haste could cause remorse for the rest of the man's life.

There are many other circumstances that could enter into this case. Say a drunk driver runs over a child and kills the child. Though the man did not desire to kill the child and there was no malice towards the child, but he still chose to do the drinking and driving, that would remove the act as being of innocence.

Deuteronomy 19:7 "Wherefore I command thee, saying, 'Thou shalt separate three cities for thee."

Moses is telling the people that when you set up these cities, get them well separated throughout the land.

Deuteronomy 19:8 "And 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;"

Moses is now saying that when you expand beyond your coast and migrate through out the world to establish new nations as God promised to Abraham, you are to establish new cities there also.

Deuteronomy 19:9 "If 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:"

God is telling the children of Israel that if you keep all these commandments and laws that I am giving to you, and you continue to love the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways. You will also establish three cities then again in the land where ever you expand to. The point that is being made here is that no matter where you go throughout the world, when you establish a new nation, you are to establish these cities also for the protection of the innocent. This again gets back to Numbers 35:6, to the number forty two.

Deuteronomy 19:10 "That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee."

The reason that we are to establish these cities, is that a man's life not be taken over an accidental death. This removes the person that killed his friend out of reach of the one that inherits, the next of kin. He can dwell there in the city of refuge safely for a period of time, until the relatives have had the time to cool off.

Deuteronomy 19:11 "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:"

This takes on a new light, for we are now discussing a murderer. When you "lie in wait" means that you have to plan and think of what you are going to do ahead of time. You plot out the murder in detail, and it is your intention to take this persons life. Today we call it, "to premeditate". This is addressing the person that does the act of murder and then flees to one of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:12 "Then 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."

If some old fellow rapes a young lady, and then kills her so she cannot witness against him, and he flees to one of these cities: the elders are to appoint someone to go after him, and bring him back to stand trial. That person could be the sheriff, a bail bondsman, or any man of the law.

After you bring him back to stand trial and he is found guilty, you turn him over to the young lady's dad or next of kin (brother or cousin), and let the avenger take the first blow to end his life. You don't have to think twice about what the little girls dad is going to do to this wicked man. Remember that this is God's way. This is done as a community, in plain sight of the entire community for a lesson to the entire community. The community goes to get the person that has committed the wicked deed within the community, so that the blood can be avenged within the community where the murder took place. There is no safe place for hiding for the murderer. The family gets the first blow that will bring about the death of the murderer. So why is this to be done this way?

Deuteronomy 19:13 "Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.' "

Today when a man or woman goes to their death in capital punishment cases, you see the bleeding hearts lining the streets for the one that did their wicked crime, crying and pleading for the life of that person. When they call themselves righteous, it shows their complete ignorance to God's instructions of what shall happen to them. "Thine eye shall not pity him, but shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel..." In other places it states, "and these things shall cease to happen amongst you."

This is the way that you handle a murderer according to God's law. Justice is fulfilled when the murderer is brought to stand before the community that the murder took place. Full understanding is brought to light within that community, and then the murderer is turned over to the avenger of the blood to carry out the first part of the sentence. The sentence is the death of the murderer, with no pity take on him (her). In our case today we are always under the law to obey civil law. Therefore the laws of our land takes place of this punishment, and the directions under the law govern how the murderer will be put to death.

There must be a trial, the facts with two or three witnesses must be present, and the judge or jury must find the person guilty before the law. Then the person shall be put to death by the prescribed manner under the law. Of course within our land there are certain appeal process within the law that prolongs the death, but in time the death must take place. When the sentence is carried out it must be public for all to see, and the purpose of this is a warning to others in the community that might think of doing as the murderer did. So biblically the avenger of blood in our day, is the one that threw the switch, or injected the needle for the death blow of the murderer.

The innocent blood must be paid for in full. Many today say that this is against the teachings of Christ, but it is not against Christ's teaching. On this subject Jesus himself stated in Matthew 5:17 that when blood is involved, it must be accounted for.

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

To destroy the law is to do away with it and make it of no affect. Jesus never came to change any of the writings of the prophets, so all of the Old Testament must also remain in effect in our day, all that is except those dealing with blood sacrifices of animals. The law was a shadow of many things that Christ would do.

Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

"Verily", "Truly you can understand", that until heaven and earth pass away not one part of the law will be changed. Heaven and earth will not pass away until after the great white throne judgment. This is recorded in Revelation 21:1; "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was not more sea." When the old heaven and earth are passed away, there will be no need for the law, for each soul will be in their angelic bodies, and all evil and forms of evil, including the devil and all his followers will be turned to ashes.

The "jot" or "yod" in the Hebrew language, is called the "iota" in the Greek language, and in the Hebrew it is represented by the ( ` = Y ) and it effects the pronunciation of a word. The "tittle" is an ornament within the writing of Hebrew words that when it exists, it abbreviates that word.

Jesus Christ came to fulfill the ordinances and blood sacrifices which were not the law. There are differences between the law, ordinances and sacrifices.

Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

It is very common today to have so-called ministers tell you that "you don't have to worry about the law", and things like "the Old Testament does not apply now". Jesus is telling us here exactly what He thinks of those that would say such a stupid thing. The the law and the writings of the prophets are taught, it must be done with clarity and understanding. It must be pointed out that those things that have been replaced by Christ's death on the cross, and all other parts must be taught with clarity to the student of God's word.

Sure you can teach that the law and the commandments are not in affect, however if you do you are on the very bottom, the scum of the next earth age. The entire second chapter of Colossians tells us exactly what Christ's death on the cross became for us. Jesus became our rest, and if you are seeking peace and rest it had better be in Christ.

Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus is telling you that if you are not more righteous than these scribes and Pharisees, you are going to hell. Why? Because if they did not change, that is where they are going. So now we get to the point of discussion dealing with a murderer.

Matthew 5:21 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:' "

Jesus is speaking of Moses teaching back in the book of Deuteronomy, that we are studying. There are many so-called bible minister and priests that stand outside of a prison where the law of God is about to be fulfilled, and they spout of trash in the name of Jesus. They show their complete ignorance of the law and God's word, and they try to interfere with the carrying out of the law of God. They say if you kill this murderer, you become a murderer, and that just isn't so. There is just one problem with their reasoning, and their twisted minds, is that they just don't understand what was said in the manuscripts.

Lets take the word "kill" back into the Greek and the Hebrew for an exact meaning. In the Greek, the word or "kill" is # 5407 Greek dictionary. "Phoneuo, fon-yoo'-o; from 5406, to be a murderer (of), kill, to do murder, slay." In # 5406 we read; "Phoneus, fon-yooce; a murderer (always a criminal [or at least intentional] homicide; which # 443 does not necessarily imply; which 4607 is a special term for a public bandit)."

It means to premeditate before hand to take the life of an innocent person. Jesus then said in Matthew 5:21; "Thou shalt not premeditate to do murderer [kill], to lie in wait to take another life." Jesus then state clearly that whosoever shall lie in wait and murder is in danger of judgment. It is God that shall judge the innocent blood of that murdered person. This is still the way that it is, the murderer shall pay the full price for their act. Not one part of what Moses wrote back in the law is changed by Jesus when He was here on earth.

The reason that we are having so much murder today is that the people are not following the letter of the law. There should be no pity taken on the murderer, and when the life of the murderer is taken it should be a public execution. When other see what happens to a murderer, than these things will stop happening amongst the rest of the people. The entire community must support the carrying out of the judgment, or it is of no effect. The purpose again; "is that these things cease to happen amongst us." A murderer that kills will kill again if returned to the community.

Deuteronomy 19:14 "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."

There is nothing new under the sun, for what Moses is warning the people of way back then goes on today. It was customary that a large stone would be placed by the surveyor of the land on the corners to mark out a man's land. This is as it was in the early days of our nation as the farms were marked out for ownership. Then on one corner of the land a permanent marker or "bench mark" would be placed establishing the elevation and point from when all other measurements would be taken from. So when you moved ones landmark, you would be stealing another man's property.

These type of disputes go on every day in our land, trying to establish just where the boundary lines are. Every time a parcel of land is sold, the owner must reestablish the boundaries of his land, and this keeps surveyors and lawyers in business. So what Moses is telling us is don't fool around with those landmarks. As the population continues to grow, large land masses are broken down into smaller parcels of land, and new boundaries are established. Don't try to bead your neighbor out of part of His land. Moses is telling us that when we do it God's way, our land will be blessed.

Deuteronomy 19:15 "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."

This verse gets into the law of false witnessing. In other words, when one person does not like another person, and he tells a falsehood about that person. It is for this reason that before any person be found guilty of violating a law, two or three witnesses be found to bear witness to a person guilt. Even if a man does sin, it remains just a matter of one man's word against another, unless it is witnessed by two or more people.

Deuteronomy 19:16 "If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;"

This part of the law has not changed, and it is very much in effect today. This is what the council is trying to get our president on today, for telling a lie while under oath before the courts of the land. The act that was committed was a private matter, but when lied about it under oath, it became a public act. The act of the lie became far more damaging under the law that what was done. It is just as much true today as in Moses day, you do not bear false witness against any man in a court of law. To any man of God claiming the name of Christ, this should be true all the time.

Deuteronomy 19:17 "Then 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;"

This is as it is in our nation and all Christian nations even today. If there is a controversy between two men (women) and it cannot be resolved between them, it should be resolved in a court of law. If the two men are Christians, than an arbitrator should be used. When that problem cannot be resolved there, in the long run it can go into court to have it resolved by the law of the land. Christians can feel free when they have done their best to resolve an issue to take it to a court of law. So don't get on a guilt trip over taking someone to court.

Deuteronomy 19:18 "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;"

It is the duty of the judges to make a complete inquisition to determine exactly what the detail of matter is, and then make he or her judgment of the case. If the outcome from the investigation is that someone was lying, than that also should be brought into the matter.

Deuteronomy 19:19 "Then 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,"

Even though the matter does not go to court, God has His ways of bringing justice upon the brother that would do harm to his brother. If that person is one of God's elect, God will deal more harshly with that person when he knew that he was doing his brother harm. When it goes to a court of law, when one person lies to do harm to another, the punishment on the liar, the one that testified falsely is just as harsh as the punishment of the other had the lie been true. If the punishment for the accused crime was five years, than the punishment for the liar who sought to give his brother five years, would be five years also. If it was in the case of murder, than the liar in court would be put to death. False accusations are very harmful, for God will turn those lies right back on your own head.

Deuteronomy 19:20 "And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall hence-forth commit no more any such evil among you."

When the rest of the community sees what happens to those that purger themselves before the law, and the see the punishment of their lies, than telling lies in a court of law will end in the community. In this day in time it becomes the difference of loosing and winning a case. Our God is a God of vengeance, and He has stated, "touch not mine anointed", and when you fool around lying about one of His children, God is the one that takes vengeance.

Deuteronomy 19:21 "And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

When someone has knowingly transgressed against God's law, God is telling you not to have pity on them. Don't feel sorry for them when they are thrown in prison, or even put to death by capital punishment. This is the type of trip that Satan would like to put on you. What this is saying, is that what ever you do to someone else, is going to come back into your own face. It is a figure of speech, and it is God's way of doing things. Today in our time, we are to obey civil laws, and the law itself will prescribe what that punishment shall be. If we do not like what that law prescribes, it is still not our privilege to go against it. If it is changed, it must be by the laws of the land. If damage is done, than the one doing the damage should pay the damages.

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