Antiguo Testamento

Deuteronomy — Capítulo 19

OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (Deu 19:1-13) Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land--Goelism, or the duty of the nearest kinsmen to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, being the customary…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Cuando Jehová tu Dios destruya a las naciones cuya tierra Jehová tu Dios te da a ti, y tú las heredes, y habites en sus ciudades, y en sus casas;

2te apartarás tres ciudades en medio de la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te da para que la poseas.

3Arreglarás los caminos, y dividirás en tres partes la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te dará en heredad, y será para que todo homicida huya allí.

4Y este es el caso del homicida que huirá allí, y vivirá: aquel que hiriere a su prójimo sin intención y sin haber tenido enemistad con él anteriormente;

5como el que fuere con su prójimo al monte a cortar leña, y al dar su mano el golpe con el hacha para cortar algún leño, saltare el hierro del cabo, y diere contra su prójimo y este muriere; aquel huirá a una de estas ciudades, y vivirá;

6no sea que el vengador de la sangre, enfurecido, persiga al homicida, y le alcance por ser largo el camino, y le hiera de muerte, no debiendo ser condenado a muerte por cuanto no tenía enemistad con su prójimo anteriormente.

7Por tanto yo te mando, diciendo: Separarás tres ciudades.

8Y si Jehová tu Dios ensanchare tu territorio, como lo juró a tus padres, y te diere toda la tierra que prometió dar a tus padres,

9siempre y cuando guardares todos estos mandamientos que yo te prescribo hoy, para ponerlos por obra; que ames a Jehová tu Dios y andes en sus caminos todos los días; entonces añadirás tres ciudades más a estas tres,

10para que no sea derramada sangre inocente en medio de la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te da por heredad, y no seas culpado de derramamiento de sangre.

11Pero si hubiere alguno que aborreciere a su prójimo y lo acechare, y se levantare contra él y lo hiriere de muerte, y muriere; si huyere a alguna de estas ciudades,

12entonces los ancianos de su ciudad enviarán y lo sacarán de allí, y lo entregarán en mano del vengador de la sangre para que muera.

13No le compadecerás; y quitarás de Israel la sangre inocente, y te irá bien.

14En la heredad que poseas en la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te da, no reducirás los límites de la propiedad de tu prójimo, que fijaron los antiguos.

15No se tomará en cuenta a un solo testigo contra ninguno en cualquier delito ni en cualquier pecado, en relación con cualquiera ofensa cometida. Solo por el testimonio de dos o tres testigos se mantendrá la acusación.

16Cuando se levantare testigo falso contra alguno, para testificar contra él,

17entonces los dos litigantes se presentarán delante de Jehová, y delante de los sacerdotes y de los jueces que hubiere en aquellos días.

18Y los jueces inquirirán bien; y si aquel testigo resultare falso, y hubiere acusado falsamente a su hermano,

19entonces haréis a él como él pensó hacer a su hermano; y quitarás el mal de en medio de ti.

20Y los que quedaren oirán y temerán, y no volverán a hacer más una maldad semejante en medio de ti.

21Y no le compadecerás; vida por vida, ojo por ojo, diente por diente, mano por mano, pie por pie.

JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 3

I. Thou shalt prepare thee a way--The roads leading to them were to be kept in good condition and th…

Thou shalt prepare thee a way--The roads leading to them were to be kept in good condition and the brooks or rivers to be spanned by good bridges; the width of the roads was to be thirty-two cubits; and at all the crossroads signposts were to be erected with the words, Mekeleth, Mekeleth, "refuge, refuge," painted on them. divide the coasts of thy land . . . into three parts--the whole extent of the country from the south to the north. The three cities on each side of Jordan were opposite to each other, "as two rows of vines in a vineyard" (see on Jos 20:7).

Versículo 6

II. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot--This verse is a continua…

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot--This verse is a continuation of Deu 19:3 (for Deu 19:4-5, which are explanatory, are in a parenthetical form), and the meaning is that if the kinsman of a person inadvertently killed should, under the impulse of sudden excitement and without inquiring into the circumstances, inflict summary vengeance on the homicide, however guiltless, the law tolerated such an act; it was to pass with impunity. But to prevent such precipitate measures, the cities of refuge were established for the reception of the homicide, that "innocent blood might not be shed in thy land" (Deu 19:10). In the case of premeditated murder (Deu 19:11-12), they afforded no immunity; but, if it were only manslaughter, the moment the fugitive was within the gates, he found himself in a safe asylum (Num 35:26-28; Jos 20:6).

Versículo 8

III. And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast--Three additional sanctuaries were to be established in…

And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast--Three additional sanctuaries were to be established in the event of their territory extending over the country from Hermon and Gilead to the Euphrates (see Gen 15:18; Exo 23:31). But it was obscurely hinted that this last provision would never be carried into effect, as the Israelites would not fulfil the conditions, namely, "that of keeping the commandments, to love the Lord, and walk ever in his ways." In point of fact, although that region was brought into subjection by David and Solomon, we do not find that cities of refuge were established; because those sovereigns only made the ancient inhabitants tributary, instead of sending a colony of Israelites to possess it. The privilege of sanctuary cities, however, was given only for Israelites; and besides, that conquered territory did not remain long under the power of the Hebrew kings.

Versículo 14

IV. THE LANDMARK IS NOT TO BE REMOVED. (Deu 19:14)

THE LANDMARK IS NOT TO BE REMOVED. (Deu 19:14) Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old have set in thine inheritance--The state of Palestine in regard to enclosures is very much the same now as it has always been. Though gardens and vineyards are surrounded by dry-stone walls or hedges of prickly pear, the boundaries of arable fields are marked by nothing but by a little trench, a small cairn, or a single erect stone, placed at certain intervals. It is manifest that a dishonest person could easily fill the gutter with earth, or remove these stones a few feet without much risk of detection and so enlarge his own field by a stealthy encroachment on his neighbor's. This law, then, was made to prevent such trespasses.

Versículo 15

V. TWO WITNESSES REQUIRED. (Deu 19:15)

TWO WITNESSES REQUIRED. (Deu 19:15) One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity--The following rules to regulate the admission of testimony in public courts are founded on the principles of natural justice. A single witness shall not be admitted to the condemnation of an accused person.

Versículo 16

VI. PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deu 19:16-21)

PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deu 19:16-21) But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly the same as would have overtaken the object of his malignant prosecution. (See on Exo 21:23; see also Lev 24:20). Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 20

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