10 So that in all your land, which the Lord your God is giving you for your heritage, no man may be wrongly put to death, for which you will be responsible.
11 But if any man has hate for his neighbour, and waiting for him secretly makes an attack on him and gives him a blow causing his death, and then goes in flight to one of these towns;
12 The responsible men of his town are to send and take him, and give him up to the one who has the right of punishment to be put to death.
13 Have no pity on him, so that Israel may be clear from the crime of putting a man to death without cause, and it will be well for you.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Deuteronomy 19
Commentary on Deuteronomy 19 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 19
The laws which Moses had hitherto been repeating and urging mostly concerned the acts of religion and devotion towards God; but here he comes more fully to press the duties of righteousness between man and man. This chapter relates,
Deu 19:1-13
It was one of the precepts given to the sons of Noah that whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed, that is, by the avenger of blood, Gen. 9:6. Now here we have the law settled between blood and blood, between the blood of the murdered and the blood of the murderer, and effectual provision made,
Deu 19:14-21
Here is a statute for the preventing of frauds and perjuries; for the divine law takes care of men's rights and properties, and has made a hedge about them. Such a friend is it to human society and men's civil interest.