| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Then the LORD said to Joshua: |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2"Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5If 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. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly 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." |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7So 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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