The Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan

41 Then Moses separateth three cities beyond the Jordan, towards the sun-rising, 42 for the fleeing thither of the man-slayer, who slayeth his neighbour unknowingly, and he is not hating him heretofore, and he hath fled unto one of these cities, and he hath lived: 43 Bezer, in the wilderness, in the land of the plain, of the Reubenite; and Ramoth, in Gilead, of the Gadite; and Golan, in Bashan, of the Manassahite.

Moses Recounts Israel's Law

44 And this 'is' the law which Moses hath set before the sons of Israel; 45 these 'are' the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses hath spoken unto the sons of Israel, in their coming out of Egypt, 46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley over-against Beth-Peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel have smitten, in their coming out of Egypt, 47 and they possess his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorite who 'are' beyond the Jordan, 'towards' the sun-rising; 48 from Aroer, which 'is' by the edge of the brook Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which 'is' Hermon— 49 and all the plain beyond the Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:41-49

Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:41-49

(Read Deuteronomy 4:41-49)

Here is the introduction to another discourse, or sermon, Moses preached to Israel, which we have in the following chapters. He sets the law before them, as the rule they were to work by, the way they were to walk in. He sets it before them, as the glass in which they were to see their natural face, that, looking into this perfect law of liberty, they might continue therein. These are the laws, given when Israel was newly come out of Egypt; and they were now repeated. Moses gave these laws in charge, while they encamped over against Beth-peor, an idol place of the Moabites. Their present triumphs were a powerful argument for obedience. And we should understand our own situation as sinners, and the nature of that gracious covenant to which we are invited. Therein greater things are shown to us than ever Israel saw from mount Sinai; greater mercies are given to us than they experienced in the wilderness, or in Canaan. One speaks to us, who is of infinitely greater dignity than Moses; who bare our sins upon the cross; and pleads with us by His dying love.