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Joshua 20:4

2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

3 so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.

5 Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.

6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.
KJV
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
WEB
He shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city. They shall take him into the city with them, and give him a place, that he may live among them.
ASV
And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
DARBY
And he shall flee unto one of those cities and stand at the entrance of the city-gate, and shall declare his matter in the ears of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
BLB
And he flees to one of these cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares in the ears of the elders of that city his case, and they shall take him into the city as one of them and give to him a place, that he may dwell among them.
ÅB
Han skal flykte til en av disse byer og stille seg ved inngangen til byens port og legge sin sak fram for de eldste i byen; så skal de ta ham inn til seg i byen og gi ham et sted hos seg hvor han kan bo.
OTB
Når de flykter til en av disse byene, skal de stille seg ved byportens inngang og legge frem sin sak for byens eldste. Eldste skal da ta imot flyktningen i byen og gi dem et sted å bo blant dem.
B1930
Han skal fly til en av disse byer og stille sig ved inngangen til byens port og legge sin sak frem for de eldste i byen; så skal de ta ham inn til sig i byen og gi ham et sted hos sig hvor han kan bo.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 38:7

    Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,

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  • Ruth 4:1–2

    Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

    Read in context

  • Job 29:7

    When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,

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  • Hebrews 6:18

    Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

    Read in context

  • Job 5:4

    His sons are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.

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  • Psalms 26:9

    Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 31:23

    Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.

    Read in context