“This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past —
Deuteronomy 19:4 names who may claim the shelter of the cities of refuge. It is the man who kills by accident, with no record of hatred toward the one who died — and that one fact decides whether he lives or dies.
The case the law describes
The law separates two kinds of killing. A manslayer kills by accident, and the example given is an everyday one — a tool slipping at work.
Leslie M. GrantGod carefully repeats the proper terms under which someone could claim the shelter of the city of refuge. It was a provision for a manslayer, not for a murderer. He might kill another unintentionally. Here is an example of this too. One might swing his axe to cut down a tree, and the axe head slip off the handle, accidentally killing another person (vs. 4-5). In such a case he could flee to the city of refuge. There he would be safe from "the avenger of blood." This person would be a close relative or friend of the victim. He might feel he had the right to take vengeance on the manslayer.
Refuge made reachable
The law did not only name who may flee. It also cleared the way for him to run.
C. H. MackintoshSee the gracious care of our God to make the city of refuge as available as possible for the slayer. The three cities were to be "in the midst of your land." It would not do to have them in remote corners, or in places hard to reach. And more than that, "you shall prepare the roads." And again, "you shall divide into three parts the area of the land." Everything was to be done to make the slayer's escape easier. The gracious Lord thought of the feelings of the distressed one fleeing for refuge to take hold of the hope set before him. The city of refuge was to be brought near, just as "the righteousness of God" is brought near to the poor broken-hearted helpless sinner — so near that it is "to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly."
Why the past matters
The verse looks back: were the two men enemies before the blow fell? One writer takes that same test and applies it to the nation that put Christ to death.
J. N. DarbyThree cities of refuge are appointed. The man who kills his neighbour without hating him is distinguished from the murderer. This is an important principle about the fate of the Jewish nation. It makes a distinction between those who took a voluntary part in the death of the Lord, or who afterwards gladly approve the deed, and those who did it in ignorance.
Ignorance credited by grace
At first glance the nation seems shut out, since its leaders planned the arrest of Jesus.
Edward DennettIf we apply these statutes to the action of the Jewish nation against Christ, it might seem as if there were no possible escape for them. Remember how they did "lie in wait," and how in the end they succeeded by bribery and scheming in securing His arrest and condemnation. But our Lord Himself prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). So God in grace, if they repent, will count them as having acted in ignorance, on the ground of this prayer, and will appoint them a city of refuge for escape and safety.
The murderer gets no shelter
The city walls gave no cover to a man who killed on purpose.
Leslie M. GrantOn the other hand, a murderer could not be allowed to take advantage of this provision. Suppose someone was guilty of hateful motives, or of murdering another on purpose, and he fled to the city of refuge. Then the elders of his own city had to send to that city. The guilty person must be handed over. He would return to his own city and face the retribution of the avenger of blood (vs. 11-13).
Safety known, not merely felt
Once inside, the fugitive's certainty rested on something outside his own emotions.
C. H. MackintoshThe moment he found himself inside the gates, he was safe, and he knew it. How did he know it? By his feelings? By his evidences? By experiences? No; simply by the word of God. No doubt he had the feeling, the evidence and the experience. These would be very precious to him after his tremendous struggle and conflict to get in. But these things were in no way the ground of his certainty or the basis of his peace. He knew he was safe because God told him so. The grace of God had made him safe, and the word of God made him sure.
Summary
- Cause — the verse tests intent, not outcome. An axe head slipping off its handle is not a planned killing, and the proof is that no hatred came before.
- Gift — God did not just grant refuge. He brought it near: central cities, prepared roads, a divided land.
- Reach — the same test reaches those who crucified Christ. If they repent, grace counts their act as done in ignorance, on the ground of His own prayer from the cross.
- Limit — refuge shelters the slayer, never the murderer. The elders had to hand over the man who killed out of hatred.
- Result — inside the gates the fugitive's peace rested on God's word, not on his feelings. Grace made him safe; the word made him sure.