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The killer will flee to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and explain their situation to the elders of that city. The elders are to let the killer into the city and provide a place of refuge for the killer to live with them. If a member of the victim’s family follows, seeking revenge, they won’t hand the killer over. This is because the killer struck down the neighbor by accident and hadn’t been an enemy in the past. The killer will live in that city until there can be a trial before the community or[a] until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return home, back to the city from which the flight began.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 20:6 Heb uncertain

When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate(A) and state their case before the elders(B) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly(C) and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”

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