Bible Commentaries

The separation of the Cities of Refuge as a pause to the first discourse.

Deuteronomy 4:41-43

41Then [After that] Moses severed three cities on this [that] side Jordan, toward the sun-rising; 42That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares [without design] and hated him not in times past [yesterday, the third day]; 43and that fleeing [and flee] unto one of these cities he might live: Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of [for] the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of [for] the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of [for] the Manassites.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

Through the whole fourth chapter down to the fortieth verse, “life” has been the thought insisted upon. If in the connection the relations to God have been made prominent, the preservation of life in our relations to our fellow-men, our neighbors, is still a very obvious, supplementary realization of the same thought. Then there is no more effective form of the fundamental idea of the whole law, which should be carried out, than that Moses, while he takes breath, should immediately use the pause, to follow the word with the deed, and therewith show his hearers what was also expected from them. See the divine command in question, [These verses are clearly in place. They narrate an occurrence which took place between the close of the first and beginning of the second discourse, and therefore are inserted here. Aside from the connection in thought, and the moral lesson they teach, they belong historically here and no where else.—A. G.]. For the later mention, and perhaps first full completion of the Mosaic separation, comp. on Joshua 20. The closer limitation, Deuteronomy 4:41, toward the sun-rising explains on this side Jordan, as the East Jordanic cities in distinction from the Canaanitic cities of refuge in chap19. Comp. that chap. The separation by Moses, as it rested upon a divine command, raises the free cities to sacred places ( Exodus 21:14; 1 Kings 2:28 sq.; 1 Kings 1:50 sq). The regulation, Deuteronomy 4:42 ( Numbers 35:15 sq.), prevents or restrains blood revenge; for the life of man is not merely precious to the slain, so that his murder must be revenged, but is alike costly to the slayer, who indeed as the murderer must pay with his own life that which he has violently taken, but whose life, even on that account, as he has simply given the fatal stroke (without foreknowledge, without any premeditated hostility) must be preserved. Deuteronomy 4:43. Bezer, “probably Bosor, 1 Maccabees 5:36, but not yet certainly ascertained” (Keil). The plain country ( Deuteronomy 3:10) is the Amoritic: thus the wilderness is used for the steppes of the Euphrates wilderness ( 1 Chronicles 5:9-10) to which Reuben lay open on the east. If the six places of refuge, on the west and east side of Jordan, were arranged at equal distances, we should look for Bezer over against Hebron. Ramoth in Gilead, is identical with Ramoth Mizpeh, a border city of Gad, now Salt, the only inhabited city in Belka, whose castle, surrounded by steep mountains, rises in a narrow rocky valley, the houses rising as terraces. Golan, east of the sea of Galilee, but not certainly discovered, although the district Gaulanitis bears its name.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

Calvin: “Athough he was not able to fulfil in every part, the divine command to select six cities, he did not delay until the three other cities could be added, from whence we may learn that although we may not immediately complete what God commands, we should not delay, and still we are not to be over anxious since He may intend to complete it through others.” Wurt. Bib.: “Sins are not all of the same dye, Matthew 12:31-32.” The refuge cities east of Jordan; 1) their significant number (three, the number of the divine life); 2) their typical position (toward the sun-rising) in reference to their chief significance, the preserving of life; in reference to Mal. [ Deuteronomy 4:2]; Luke 1:78; 2 Peter 1:19; 2 Peter 3) their significance, over against the custom of blood revenge, and for the law of God. The sacredness of human life. [The whole law is unto life. Obedience to it is not only the path to life hereafter, but to life here, Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 4:40; Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 4:4. This provision of the cities of refuge, with all the arrangements as to ease of access, shows how sacredly the law guards human life. It claims indeed life for life, thus lays its restraints upon human passion and violence, but still protects the unintentional and therefore guiltless man slayer.—A. G.].