Joshua 20:3

3 that the slayer who killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:3 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:3

That the slayer that killeth [any] person unawares, [and]
unwittingly, may flee thither
Who through mere accident, and without design, killed a person, friend or foe, one of his own kindred, or a stranger, without any malice against him, or intention to take away his life:

and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood;
from any of the relations of the deceased, who might be stirred up to avenge the blood of his kinsman on the slayer; see ( Numbers 35:12 ) .

Joshua 20:3 In-Context

1 The LORD also spoke unto Joshua, saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, `Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you by the hand of Moses,

3 that the slayer who killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand, because he smote his neighbor unwittingly and hated him not beforehand.