Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
2. separate ] set apart, Deu 4:41.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Thou shalt separate three cities] See Clarke on Nu 35:11, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In the midst of thy land, to wit, beyond Jordan, as there were three already appointed on this side Jordan, Num 35:14. He saith, in the midst of the land, either for in the land, as in the midst of the city, Jer 52:25, is the same with that in the city, 2Ki 25:19, or to design the places, that they should be situated in the midst of the several parts of their land, to which they might conveniently and speedily flee from all the parts of the land.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Thou shalt separate three citiesfor thee in the midst of thy landGoelism, or the duty of thenearest kinsmen to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, beingthe customary law of that age (as it still is among the Arabs andother people of the East), Moses incorporated it in an improved formwith his legislative code. For the protection of the unintentionalhomicide, he provided certain cities of refugethree had beendestined for this purpose on the east of Jordan (Deu 4:41;Num 35:11); three were to beinvested with the same privilege on the west of that river whenCanaan should be conquered.
in the midst of thy landinsuch a position that they would be conspicuous and accessible, andequidistant from the extremities of the land and from each other.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land,…. From the cities they took possession of and dwelt in; and indeed from the cities of the Levites, which were given to them to inhabit; three were before ordered to be separated from those inhabited by the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, De 4:41 but these were to be in the midst of the land of Canaan; see Jos 20:7,
which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it: which as it is often mentioned when this land is spoken of, so it carries in it a reason here why this order of the Lord’s should be readily complied with, the whole land and all the cities of it being the gift of his to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ver. 2. In the midst of thy land Rather, within thy land, as appears from the next verse. The land was to be divided into three parts; and a city of refuge to be set apart in each, in the most convenient place for those to flee to, who should be so unhappy as to stand in need of an asylum.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
three cities. Compare Num 35:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
separate three cities: Unquestionably in imitation of these cities, the heathen had their asyla, and the Roman Catholics their privileged altars, and similar traditions seem to obtain in many barbarous nations, for “the North American Indian nations have most of them either a house or town of refuge, which is a sure asylum to protect a manslayer, or the unfortunate captive, if he once enter it. In almost every Indian nation, there are several towns, which are called old beloved, ancient, holy, or white towns – white being their fixed emblem of peace, friendship, prosperity, happiness, purity, etc.. They seem to have been formerly towns of refuge; for it is not in the memory of the oldest people that human blood was shed in them.” Deu 4:41-43, Exo 21:13, Num 35:10-15, Jos 20:2-7, Heb 6:18
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 19:2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee There were to be six cities of refuge in all, but Moses had already appointed three on that side of Jordan where they now were. See Num 35:14-15;
Deu 4:41. In the midst of thy land That is, in the midst of the several parts or districts of thy land, or within thy land; for had they been all three in the very heart of the country, the very intention of them would have been counteracted: which was, that they should be so conveniently placed in several parts of the country, that men might easily and speedily flee to them.