Text: Deuteronomy 19:1-13
OT Text Referred to: Exodus 21:12-14
Subject: homicide laws and cities of refuge
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Allusion
Connection Method(s): None
Significance: Exodus 21:12-14 distinguishes between intentional murder (death penalty) and unintentional killing (asylum at God's altar), and Deuteronomy 19:1-13 develops this into a comprehensive refugee system with three designated cities. Exodus's altar-based asylum is replaced by geographically distributed cities of refuge, with roads to be maintained so the manslayer can reach them quickly (Deut 19:3). Deuteronomy adds a provision for three additional cities if God enlarges Israel's territory (19:8-9), anticipating growth. The Deuteronomic version also specifies the role of elders in extraditing intentional murderers from refuge cities (19:12), providing institutional mechanisms that Exodus's compact case law left implicit.