Today I read Deuteronomy 19, where God says to appoint cities of refuge for murders who unintentionally killed someone, and crimes require more than one witness with lying witnesses being punished. Today I considered that God considers the heart of a person unintentionally committing harm and hates lying.
Cities of Refuge for Manslaughter
When the Israelites possess the land God took from nations to give to them, they are to not shed innocent blood but are to avenge innocent blood (Deuteronomy 19:1-14). If a neighbor, friend, or co-worker unintentionally kills someone, they can flee to a city of refuge. These people are considered innocent. They are not to be killed by someone seeking vengeance or justice. If a neighbor, friend, or co-worker kills someone they already had issues or conflict with, they are not allowed to stay in a city of refuge. The elders of their city can go get them because they may not be automatically considered innocent.
Witnesses
Accusing others of sin or crimes requires more than one witness or the conviction of a judge (Deuteronomy 19:15-21). Establishing that someone sinned requires two or more witnesses. If someone accuses without that, the matter is to be taken before the priests and judges to ask questions. If someone lied in their testimony, the judges would give the liar the same punishment they sought against the person they accused. The Israelites in those cases are to take “life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deut. 19:21b KJV).
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God’s laws about letting those committing manslaughter flee to save their lives shows that God was looking at their heart not just their actions. God did not want his children killed because of unintentional accidents, even if the accident was major and resulted death. God did want liars to reap what they sowed and not be spared even to the point of taking the liar’s life. God was serious about the punishment of lying witnesses.
What did you get from this chapter related to manslaughter and false witnesses?