Deuteronomy 19: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Deuteronomy 19 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh instructs the people to set apart three cities of refuge in their land (vv. 1-3). These cities will protect those who kill someone unintentionally.

Key verse

“Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
Deuteronomy 19:21 (WEB)

Outline

Deuteronomy 19:1–3 Establishment of Cities of Refuge
Deuteronomy 19:4–10 Protection for Unintentional Killers
Deuteronomy 19:11–13 Consequences for Premeditated Murder
Deuteronomy 19:14–21 Witnesses and Legal Standards

Discussion questions

In v2, what specific instructions does Yahweh give regarding the cities to be set apart?
What is the consequence mentioned in v13 for failing to purge innocent blood from Israel?
The concept of 'innocent blood' in vv. 10-11: what implications does this have for societal justice?
In v19, what does it mean to 'remove the evil from among you' in the context of false witnessing?
When have you seen or experienced a situation where intention mattered in a conflict, as in v4?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Deuteronomy 19: Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 17, Matthew 5.

Before next time: read Deuteronomy 20.