Joshua 20:9

7 So they set apart 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.

8 And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

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
These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.
KJV
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.
WEB
These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
ASV
These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person unwittingly might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
DARBY
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever smiteth any one mortally without intent might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the assembly.
BLB
These were the cities appointed for all the sons of Israel, and for the sojourner who is sojourning in their midst, for the fleeing there of anyone striking a person in error, that he would not die by the hand of the avenger of the blood until his standing before the face of the congregation.
ÅB
Dette var de byer som ble fastsatt til tilfluktsstæder for alle Israels barn og for de fremmede som oppholder seg blant dem, så hver den som av vanvare slår noen ihjel, kan flykte dit og ikke skal dø for blodhevnerens hånd, før han er blitt stilt fram for menigheten.
OTB
Dette var de utpekte byene for alle israelittene og enhver fremmed som bor blant dem, slik at enhver som dreper en person utilsiktet kunne flykte dit og ikke bli drept av blodhevneren før de har stått for retten for forsamlingen.
B1930
Dette var de byer som blev fastsatt til tilfluktsstæder for alle Israels barn og for de fremmede som opholder sig blandt dem, så hver den som av vanvare slår nogen ihjel, kan fly dit og ikke skal dø for blodhevnerens hånd, før han er blitt stilt frem for menigheten.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 35:15

    These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

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  • Joshua 20:4

    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.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 20:6

    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.”

    Read in context