21 verses
The chapter outlines Israel’s laws for handling unintentional killings, establishing cities of refuge, and setting strict evidentiary standards to ensure justice and mercy.
Deuteronomy 19 prescribes that Israel must set apart three cities for those who, by accident, kill a neighbor, allowing the guilty to flee and live. The law specifies that if the killer truly did not intend death, he may seek refuge in one of these cities and will be protected from avengers of blood. The text further commands that if Israel keeps these laws and its covenant with God, an additional three cities may be added. It stresses the importance of fair testimony, requiring two or three witnesses for a conviction and condemning false witnesses. Those found guilty of lying in court face punishment equal to the harm they caused, reinforcing the principle of retributive justice. The passage concludes with a warning that life for life and eye for eye will be upheld in the community.
neutral
The text conveys a legal and procedural tone without explicit emotional language.