Joshua 20:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Joshua 20:3

The Cities of Refuge

1 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ^a‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

3 that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and¹ declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

5 ^aThen if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand.

6 And he shall dwell in that city ^auntil he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

7 So they appointed ^aKedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, ^bShechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and ^cKirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in ^dthe mountains of Judah.

Verse Comparison: Joshua 20:3

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American Standard Version
that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly `and' unawares may flee thither: and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Amplified® Bible
That the slayer who kills anyone accidentally and unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Contemporary English Version
If a person accidentally kills someone and the victim's relatives say it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of the Safe Towns and be safe from the victim's relatives. The one needing protection will stand at the entrance to the town gate and explain to the town leaders what happened. Then the leaders will bring that person in and provide a place to live in their town.

Darby English Version
that the slayer who unwittingly without intent smiteth any one mortally may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Good News Bible
If any of you accidentally kills someone, you can go there and escape the one who is looking for revenge.

King James Version
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

New American Standard Bible
that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.

New International Version
so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.

New King James Version
that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Revised Standard Version
that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or unwittingly may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Young's Literal Translation
for the fleeing thither of a man-slayer smiting life inadvertently, without knowledge; and they have been to you for a refuge from the redeemer of blood.

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The Cities of Refuge

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning