Numbers 35:12
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
- KJV
- And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
- WEB
- The cities shall be for your refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
- ASV
- And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment.
- DARBY
- And ye shall have these cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he have stood before the assembly in judgment.
- BLB
- And they shall be for you⁺ cities of refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the face of the congregation for judgment.
- ÅB
- Disse byer skal dere ha til tilfluktsstæder for manndraperen når han flykter for blodhevneren, for at han ikke skal dø før han har stått til doms for menigheten.
- OTB
- Disse byene skal være en tilflukt fra hevneren, slik at den anklagede ikke dør før han står for retten for forsamlingen.
- B1930
- Disse byer skal I ha til tilfluktsstæder for manndraperen når han flykter for blodhevneren, forat han ikke skal dø før han har stått til doms for menigheten.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 19:6
Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
Read in contextJoshua 20:3–6
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Read in contextJoshua 20:9
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Read in context2 Samuel 14:7
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
Read in contextNumbers 35:24–27
Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
Read in contextNumbers 35:19
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 19:11–12
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
Read in context