There are details here of three cities of refuge which someone accused of committing a serious crime could flee to in order to save his life (v1-13). The purpose of these cities was to encourage that good procedures of justice would be followed.

There is a lovely picture of salvation here as we who are all guilty before God, must flee to Jerusalem and the cross of Christ to be safe from God’s wrath for our sin. Have you fled to Christ, are you safe in Him?

People were not to cheat their neighbours in moving boundary markers (v14). The principle is that the land was from the Lord and people had not the right to cheat others out of it. Believers are always to be part of God’s family and not just think about their own needs but of others also.

Justice required more than just one witness (v15). This was for integrity in justice. When we come to the New Testament and witnesses to Christ and the resurrection in the Gospel writers we have four accounts to prove the authenticity of what Jesus has done.

The issue of false witnesses is dealt with here (v16-21). The Lord is the God of truth and hates those who are false and those who are malicious. Justice will be served on such. We need to be sure that we are the opposite, a people of truth and grace like Christ.