20:3
That the slayer that killeth [any] person a
unawares [and] unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from
the avenger of blood.
(a) At unawares and bearing him no grudge.
20:5 And if the b
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.
(b) That is, the nearest kinsman of him that is
slain.
20:6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he
stand before the congregation for c
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.
(c) Till his cause was proved.
20:8 And on the other side
Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain
out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and
Golan in Bashan out of the d tribe of
Manasseh.
(d) Out of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond the
Jordan.
20:9 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 e
congregation.
Joshua 20 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) At unawares and bearing him no grudge.
20:5 And if the b 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.
(b) That is, the nearest kinsman of him that is slain.
20:6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for c 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.
(c) Till his cause was proved.
20:8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the d tribe of Manasseh.
(d) Out of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan.
20:9 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 e congregation.
(e) Before the Judges.