Discovery BoxJoshua 20:3-6 
Context20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; 1 these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter 2 should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. 3 They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 4 20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 5 20:6 He must remain 6 in that city until his case is decided by the assembly 7 and the high priest dies. 8 Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” 9
1 tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the one who accidentally kills another, cf. v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”
4 tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”
5 tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”
6 tn Or “live.”
7 tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”
8 tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”
9 tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”
