The following commentary covers Chapters 19, 20, and 21.
Ordinances
as to the enjoyment of the land
Chapter 19 opens with
ordinances which contemplate the people in possession and
enjoyment of the land; they were to observe them, that
the land might not be defiled, and that the people might
walk in the strength of Jehovah.
Cities of refuge
appointed: regulations as to false witnesses
Three cities of refuge are
appointed, and he who kills his neighbour, without hating
him, is distinguished from the murderer: an important
principle, as to the fate of the Jewish nation, which
makes' a distinction between those who have taken a
voluntary part in the death of the Lord, or who
afterwards heartily approve the deed, and those who have
done it ignorantly. The regulations of righteousness also
against false witnesses are given here.
In chapter 20 we have the
ordinances relative to war.
Principles of the
ways of God with Israel
In chapter 21 we have
three interesting cases, because of the principles which
apply to the ways of God with Israel: the case of the man
found slain; that of the child of the hated wife; and
that of the rebellious son. The land of Jehovah must be
kept pure. Israel will have to make this confession in
the latter days, and to clear themselves of the blood of
Messiah.
If the case of the two
wives applies to Israel upon earth, it applies still more
closely to Christ (Head of the Gentiles) and the assembly
with whom He will inherit all things, although upon earth
Israel be the wife beloved.
However, Israel, as a
rebellious son under the old covenant, is condemned and
cut off; as regards the redeemed, the curse of the law
has fallen upon another. Those who read the Bible are too
well acquainted with the application of the end of this
chapter to make it needful for me to dwell upon it. The
point here under consideration is the defiling of the
land, which Jehovah had given for an inheritance to the
people; the hardness of heart of the priests in applying
the precept under the circumstances is appalling, yet
natural.
Summary of
chapters 16: 18 to 21: 23
I will now briefly sum up
the subjects we have looked at from chapter 16: 18. We
have the means, in point of authority, employed of God to
maintain the people in His ways, and in the knowledge of
His will, that they might enjoy the land in peace. Judges
and officers were to be appointed, and to judge with
uprightness. The priest and the judge, raised up in an
extraordinary manner, were to communicate, in case of
need, the judgment and will of God, and the people were
to obey them. In case the people wished for a king,
directions are given respecting his conduct.
Directions are given for
those Levites who should devote themselves to the service
of Jehovah, in the place chosen by Him as His
dwelling-place. The people, seeking to know the will of
God, were not to consult diviners. Jehovah would raise up
a prophet. Afterwards there is provision made to keep the
land from being polluted with blood; the elders of the
city were to take knowledge of the deed, whether the
slayer had killed without set purpose.
The cities of refuge
present a beautiful type of the state of Israel, as to
their sin, in having killed the Lord Jesus, whether
ignorantly (as the grace of God looks upon it with regard
to those who repent), or knowingly (as perseverance in
rejecting Him would be the proof of): this is the
principle upon which God will judge them. So, in this
last point of view, the people were placed under the
searching severity of the law.
In chapter 20 provision is
made to reconcile any war that might arise with the
enjoyment of the land and the blessing of God, either
individually or in case of conquest; and directions are
given to secure the presence of the power of God, and to
shew how the enemies were to be treated according to the
mind of God; all mercy towards the nations of Canaan
being prohibited, in order that Israel might not learn
the abominations they were guilty of.
Chapter 21 gives another
provision for preventing the land from defilement by
blood, while declaring (as elsewhere) that life belongs
to God—that, when His rights are infringed, He will
not wink at it. We cannot fail to see that the blood of
Christ is, above all, that of which Israel is here (chap.
21) guilty (see Psalm 51), and the blood of Jesus is the
only atonement for the sin which shed it. The elders
excuse themselves by pleading their ignorance of what had
been done. The same thing will take place with regard to
Israel. So pleads also Paul. However, there is nothing
but the blood of the heifer which never bore the yoke
that can wipe away sin. Thus will the guilt of innocent
blood be taken from off the people.
The following directions
are indeed practical directions for Israel; but they seem
to me to contain, at the same time, some of God's
principles towards His people. Thus Israel upon earth,
and the assembly in heaven, have both been the true
firstborn, whom God will not disinherit. And the
rebellious son presents also Israel in final disobedience
to God.
Deuteronomy 20 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Ordinances as to the enjoyment of the land
Chapter 19 opens with ordinances which contemplate the people in possession and enjoyment of the land; they were to observe them, that the land might not be defiled, and that the people might walk in the strength of Jehovah.
Cities of refuge appointed: regulations as to false witnesses
Three cities of refuge are appointed, and he who kills his neighbour, without hating him, is distinguished from the murderer: an important principle, as to the fate of the Jewish nation, which makes' a distinction between those who have taken a voluntary part in the death of the Lord, or who afterwards heartily approve the deed, and those who have done it ignorantly. The regulations of righteousness also against false witnesses are given here.
In chapter 20 we have the ordinances relative to war.
Principles of the ways of God with Israel
In chapter 21 we have three interesting cases, because of the principles which apply to the ways of God with Israel: the case of the man found slain; that of the child of the hated wife; and that of the rebellious son. The land of Jehovah must be kept pure. Israel will have to make this confession in the latter days, and to clear themselves of the blood of Messiah.
If the case of the two wives applies to Israel upon earth, it applies still more closely to Christ (Head of the Gentiles) and the assembly with whom He will inherit all things, although upon earth Israel be the wife beloved.
However, Israel, as a rebellious son under the old covenant, is condemned and cut off; as regards the redeemed, the curse of the law has fallen upon another. Those who read the Bible are too well acquainted with the application of the end of this chapter to make it needful for me to dwell upon it. The point here under consideration is the defiling of the land, which Jehovah had given for an inheritance to the people; the hardness of heart of the priests in applying the precept under the circumstances is appalling, yet natural.
Summary of chapters 16: 18 to 21: 23
I will now briefly sum up the subjects we have looked at from chapter 16: 18. We have the means, in point of authority, employed of God to maintain the people in His ways, and in the knowledge of His will, that they might enjoy the land in peace. Judges and officers were to be appointed, and to judge with uprightness. The priest and the judge, raised up in an extraordinary manner, were to communicate, in case of need, the judgment and will of God, and the people were to obey them. In case the people wished for a king, directions are given respecting his conduct.
Directions are given for those Levites who should devote themselves to the service of Jehovah, in the place chosen by Him as His dwelling-place. The people, seeking to know the will of God, were not to consult diviners. Jehovah would raise up a prophet. Afterwards there is provision made to keep the land from being polluted with blood; the elders of the city were to take knowledge of the deed, whether the slayer had killed without set purpose.
The cities of refuge present a beautiful type of the state of Israel, as to their sin, in having killed the Lord Jesus, whether ignorantly (as the grace of God looks upon it with regard to those who repent), or knowingly (as perseverance in rejecting Him would be the proof of): this is the principle upon which God will judge them. So, in this last point of view, the people were placed under the searching severity of the law.
In chapter 20 provision is made to reconcile any war that might arise with the enjoyment of the land and the blessing of God, either individually or in case of conquest; and directions are given to secure the presence of the power of God, and to shew how the enemies were to be treated according to the mind of God; all mercy towards the nations of Canaan being prohibited, in order that Israel might not learn the abominations they were guilty of.
Chapter 21 gives another provision for preventing the land from defilement by blood, while declaring (as elsewhere) that life belongs to God—that, when His rights are infringed, He will not wink at it. We cannot fail to see that the blood of Christ is, above all, that of which Israel is here (chap. 21) guilty (see Psalm 51), and the blood of Jesus is the only atonement for the sin which shed it. The elders excuse themselves by pleading their ignorance of what had been done. The same thing will take place with regard to Israel. So pleads also Paul. However, there is nothing but the blood of the heifer which never bore the yoke that can wipe away sin. Thus will the guilt of innocent blood be taken from off the people.
The following directions are indeed practical directions for Israel; but they seem to me to contain, at the same time, some of God's principles towards His people. Thus Israel upon earth, and the assembly in heaven, have both been the true firstborn, whom God will not disinherit. And the rebellious son presents also Israel in final disobedience to God.