Joshua 20:4-6

Contemporary English Version

^3-4 If a person accidentally kills someone and the victim's relatives say it was murder, they might try to take revenge.^[a] 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.

⁵ One of the victim's relatives might come to the town, looking for revenge. But the town leaders must not simply hand over the person accused of murder. After all, the accused and the victim had been neighbors, not enemies. ⁶ The citizens of that Safe Town must come together and hold a trial. They may decide that the victim was killed accidentally and that the accused is not guilty of murder.

Everyone found not guilty^[b] must still live in the Safe Town until the high priest dies. Then they can go back to their own towns and their homes that they had to leave behind.