Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 19:6
Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he [was] not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
6. avenger of blood ] Heb. go‘el haddm (2Sa 14:11, Num 35:19-27, Jos 20:3; Jos 20:5; Jos 20:9). The consuetudinary law of the vendetta is not abrogated, but persists so far as the nearest, or other, kinsman of the slain still takes the duty of punishing the slayer. See v. 22 and Add. note.
while his heart is hot ] and he cannot discriminate between accidental and wilful murder. It was doubtless to avoid the same unjust passion that the right of sanctuary arose among the nomad Arabs.
because the way is long ] to the One Altar, Deu 14:24; cp. Deu 12:21.
mortally ] Heb. to, or as to, the life ( nephesh), Deu 19:11; cp. Deu 22:26.
whereas, etc.] Heb. there being no case of death to (against) him (a circumstantial clause); cp. Deu 21:22, Deu 22:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This verse is to be joined with Deu 19:3, as is evident, the 4th and 5th verses coming in as a parenthesis, which is usual in Scripture and other authors.
And slay him; which is supposed, but not allowed, as appears from the following words. But the avenger of blood is not to be punished with death for killing the manslayer, in case he found him without the borders of the city of refuge after he had been received there, Num 35:26,27, because then he was guilty of a new crime, to wit, a contempt of Gods ordinance, and a gross neglect of the duty of self-preservation, and therefore deserved death from God, who might permit it to be inflicted by the avenger of blood.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6, 7. Lest the avenger of the bloodpursue the slayer, while his heart is hotThis verse is acontinuation of De 19:3 (forDeu 19:4; Deu 19:5,which are explanatory, are in a parenthetical form), and the meaningis that if the kinsman of a person inadvertently killed should, underthe impulse of sudden excitement and without inquiring into thecircumstances, inflict summary vengeance on the homicide, howeverguiltless, the law tolerated such an act; it was to pass withimpunity. But to prevent such precipitate measures, the cities ofrefuge were established for the reception of the homicide, that”innocent blood might not be shed in thy land” (De19:10). In the case of premeditated murder (Deu 19:11;Deu 19:12), they afforded noimmunity; but, if it were only manslaughter, the moment the fugitivewas within the gates, he found himself in a safe asylum (Num 35:26-28;Jos 20:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Lest the avenger of blood pursue the slayer,…. These words are to be connected with De 19:3, where it is ordered to prepare the way to the cities of refuge, and to divide the land into three parts, for the convenience of the slayer to flee thither, lest he that was next of kin, and incensed against the slayer, and determined to avenge what was done, should pursue after him:
while his heart is hot; by reason of the loss of his relation, upon which his passions being raised, his heart becomes inflamed with wrath and anger; which pushes him upon an eager and hasty pursuit of the slayer, before he sits down and coolly considers and deliberates on the affair:
and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; wherefore it was proper that everything should be done to make the way to these cities as easy and as short as it could be:
whereas he was not worthy of death; had not committed an action deserving of it, it being done ignorantly and without notice, as follows:
inasmuch as he hated him not in time past;
[See comments on De 19:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Deu 19:6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he [was] not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
Ver. 6. While his heart is hot. ] As Nebuchadnezzar’s oven – viz., with anger and grief, and such like passions; which, like heavy bodies down steep hills, once in motion move themselves, and know no ground but the bottom.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
avenger = kinsman avenger.
slay him = slay his soul. Hebrew. nephesh (App-13), i.e. take his life.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
avenger
Heb. “goel,” Redemp. (Kinsman type). (See Scofield “Isa 59:20”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the avenger: Num 35:12, Jos 20:5, 2Sa 14:7
slay him: Heb. smite him in life
not worthy: Deu 21:22, Jer 26:15, Jer 26:16
in time past: Heb. from yesterday the third day, Deu 19:4
Reciprocal: Num 35:19 – General Num 35:27 – he shall not be guilty of blood 1Th 5:4 – overtake