SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:3
Te arreglarás el camino, y dividirás en tres partes el término de tu tierra, que el SEÑOR tu Dios te dará en heredad, y será para que todo homicida huya allí.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 19:3
Verse 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way] The Jews inform us that the roads to the cities of refuge were made very broad, thirty-two cubits; and even, so that there should be no impediments in the way; and were constantly kept in good repair.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way , etc.] A road, an highway to those cities: on the first of Adar, or February, the magistrates used to meet, and proclaimed, or ordered to be proclaimed, that the ways be repaired f227 , particularly those leading to the cities of refuge; which was done by making them smooth and plain, so that there was not an hill or dale to be seen; and by building bridges over rivers and brooks, that he might escape who had killed anyone through mistake, and not be hindered, lest the avenger of blood should overtake him and kill him f228 ; and therefore every obstruction was removed out of the way, that there might be a clear course for him; and at the parting of ways, or where two or more ways met, that he might not be at a loss one moment which way to take, “refuge” was written, as Jarchi and other writers observe, upon posts or pillars erected for that purpose: (See Gill on “ Numbers 35:6”), and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, in three parts ; in each of which was to be a city of refuge, and those at an equal distance: so Jarchi observes, that this was done that there might be from the beginning of the border (of the land) unto the first city of the cities of refuge, according to the measure of a journey, that there is from that to the second, and so from the second to the third, and so from the third to the other border of the land of Israel: of the situation of these cities, so as to answer to those on the other side Jordan, (See Gill on “ Numbers 35:14”), that every slayer may flee thither ; to that which is nearest and most convenient for him, that is, who had slain a man unawares, as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - Here is the law settled between the blood of the murdered, and the blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the cities of refug should be a protection, so that a man should not die for that as crime, which was not his willing act. In Christ, the Lord ou Righteousness, refuge is provided for those who by faith flee unto him But there is no refuge in Jesus Christ for presumptuous sinners, who go on still in their trespasses. Those who flee to Christ from their sins shall be safe in him, but not those who expect to be sheltered by his in their sins.
Original Hebrew
תכין 3559 לך הדרך 1870 ושׁלשׁת 8027 את 853 גבול 1366 ארצך 776 אשׁר 834 ינחילך 5157 יהוה 3068 אלהיך 430 והיה 1961 לנוס 5127 שׁמה 8033 כל 3605 רצח׃ 7523
