Joshua 20:6-9

20:6 He must remain ¹  in that city until his case is decided by the assembly ²  and the high priest dies. ³  Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” ⁴ 

20:7 So they selected ⁵  Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho ⁶  they selected ⁷  Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge ⁸  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 ⁹  the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. ¹⁰ 

[20:6]  ¹ tn Or “live.”

[20:6]  ² tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”

[20:6]  ³ tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”

[20:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”

[20:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “set apart.”

[20:8]  ⁶ map For the location of Jericho see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[20:8]  ⁷ tn Or “set aside.”

[20:9]  ⁸ tn The Hebrew text reads simply “the cities.” The words “for refuge” are supplied for clarification.

[20:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”

[20:9]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are supplied for clarification.