Joshua 20:3-6

20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; ¹  these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter ²  should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. ³  They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. ⁴  20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. ⁵  20:6 He must remain ⁶  in that city until his case is decided by the assembly ⁷  and the high priest dies. ⁸  Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” ⁹ 

Joshua 20:9

20:9 These were the cities of refuge ¹⁰  appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by ¹¹  the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. ¹² 

¹ tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”

² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the one who accidentally kills another, cf. v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”

⁴ tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”

⁵ tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”

⁶ tn Or “live.”

⁷ tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”

⁸ tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”

⁹ tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”

¹⁰ tn The Hebrew text reads simply “the cities.” The words “for refuge” are supplied for clarification.

¹¹ tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”

¹² tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are supplied for clarification.