“Please,” she replied, “swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!” He said, “I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!”
Joshua 20:3 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition If a person accidentally kills someone and the victim's relatives say it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of the Safe Towns and be safe from the victim's relatives. The one needing protection will stand at the entrance to the town gate and explain to the town leaders what happened. Then the leaders will bring that person in and provide a place to live in their town. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 that the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition That the slayer who kills anyone accidentally and unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. [Num. 35:10ff.] American Standard Version (1901) that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly and unawares may flee thither: and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of blood. Common English Bible Anyone who kills by striking down someone unintentionally or by mistake may flee there. These places will be a refuge for you from any member of the victim’s family seeking revenge. Catholic Public Domain Version so that anyone who will have struck down a life unintentionally may flee to them. And so, he may be able to escape from the wrath of a close relative, who is an avenger of blood. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version That whosoever shall kill a person unawares may flee to them: and may escape the wrath of the kinsman, who is the avenger of blood. |
“Please,” she replied, “swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!” He said, “I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!”
to say to the community of Israel: Offer a sacrifice to ask forgiveness when you sin by accidentally doing something I have told you not to do.
If the victim's relatives think it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of these Safe Towns for protection and not be killed before a trial is held.
by one of the victim's relatives. He will take revengefor his relative's death as soon as he finds you.
But if you are not angry and accidentally kill someone in any of these ways, the townspeople must hold a trial and decide if you are guilty.
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
When Moses was still alive, I commanded him to tell the Israelites about the Safe Towns. Now you tell them that it is time to set up these towns.