Commento su Deuteronomio 19:2

שלוש ערים תבדיל, after Moses had explained the function of the judges, the king, the priests, and the prophets, Moses now details some of the tasks that fall under the jurisdiction of the judges, among them the establishment of the cities of refuge, the boundaries of the land, the examination of witnesses to establish that their testimony is truthful and accurate, and that they are acceptable as witnesses. Next, he deals with the tasks that fall within the competence of the king, such as leading the nation in war, especially aggressive wars beyond the boundaries of the land of Israel. (20, 1-9) The priests also have a role to play during the preparation of what are termed מלחמת רשות, “halachically permissible wars,” although they are not fought in order to repel invaders. The priests and judges cooperate in some of their duties, especially the עגלה הערופה, the calf killed when a murder in the field was unresolved. (21,1-9)

Separate three cities for yourself. Do not think that it would be better to place the cities of refuge in another kingdom, where the residents would be safer from the relatives of the deceased, who will not be able to cross the border without permission from the ruler of that land. This is not the case, but rather the cities must specifically be within your land.

VV. 2 u. 3. שלש וגו׳ תכין לך וגו׳ (siehe zu Bamidbar 35, 11). — אשר ינחילך וגו׳. In den früheren Versen heißt es immer ירושה. Wir haben bereits an anderer Stelle den Unterschied zwischen ירש und נחל besprochen. ירש begreift die Erbschaft vom Standpunkte des Erben, נחל vom Standpunkt des Erblassers. Hier dürfte durch diesen Wechsel gesagt sein: obgleich du materiell an die Stelle der früheren Bewohner in den Besitz des Landes, der Städte und der Häuser trittst, so soll das Land mit seinem ganzen Inhalt doch von dir als ein völlig verändertes auf deine Nachkommen vererbt werden, als du es als Nachfolger der Völker angetreten. Du sollst dich nicht als יורש der Völker betrachten, sondern das Land als נחלת ה׳ geistig und sittlich umwandelt auf deine Kinder vererben.

שלש ערים, “three cities, etc.; the people had already been commanded concerning these cities of refuge in Numbers 35,14, and the only reason this is repeated here again is to add the instruction to the population to erect signposts for the benefit of the people searching for such a city in order to escape the wrath of a blood avenger of the slain victim.

והיה לנום שמה כל רוצח (siehe zu Bamidbar 35, 12).