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Joshua 20:4

2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

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

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.

5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence 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 when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

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  • Ruth 4:1–2

    Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

    Read in context

  • Job 29:7

    When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

    Read in context

  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

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  • Job 5:4

    His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 26:9

    Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 31:23

    Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

    Read in context