Taking A Life (19:1-21)
Neal Pollard
Moses deals with the “manslayer” in this chapter (3,4,6) and the need for Israel to avoid “bloodguiltiness” (10). To preserve this, there must be a way to determine if one is guilty of murder or killing one accidentally. This, he covers in the first 13 verses. After an intervening verse about respecting property rights (14), Moses then deals with the importance of witnesses being truthful and the punishment of false witnesses. There would be circumstances where one’s integrity and even their very life being at stake, and any witness called to testify concerning an alleged wrongdoing.
Cities Of Refuge (1-13). God outlines a plan for Israel to build three cities on either side of the Jordan River designated as cities where manslayers could go to profess their innocence from the charge of premeditated murder (2,7,9). The manslayer would flee to there and not be unjustly killed by the deceased’s relative seeking vengeance. Yet, there is no sanctuary for the one who committed premeditated murder with malice and forethought (11-13). The elders of the city would play a key role in adjudicating guilt and innocence (12).
Boundary Marks (14). This still concerns dealing with one’s neighbor with integrity. Inheritance would be a fixed matter and boundaries must be respected. The Lord would be directly involved in allotting territory, and it would be the height of dishonesty and treachery to alter His arrangement.
Standing Before The Lord (15-21). No matter what the legal matter would be, it could not be resolved without witnesses. It could not be “he said, he said.” Thus, the command is “on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed” (15). Concerning a “malicious witness,” one who alleges wrongdoing against another, priests and judges would serve as God’s arbitrators in such a case (17). Upon their investigation, they would determine the truth or falseness of the malicious witness’s testimony. If he is a false witness, then whatever was meant for the victim of his lie will be done to him. To what extent? “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21). This was to serve as a deterrent against injustice (19-20).
The Law of Moses was more than a religious law. It was a civil and political law, too. It was God’s means of maintaining law and order among His chosen people in the land He was giving them. It granted important protections, against unintentional manslaughter, against greedy or dishonest property disputes, and against false witnessing. Preserving a spirit of brotherhood was crucial to the longterm success of God’s people. Later, in spiritually low points, there would be abuses in these very areas (Hos. 5:10; 1 Ki. 21:13; etc.). Not surprisingly, those abuses presaged the downfall of the people! God wants His people to go the extra mile in having and demonstrating integrity, honesty, and brotherly love. It is the roadmap to peace and spiritual prosperity (Mat. 7:12)!
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