“ Tell the Israelites to choose the cities to go to for safety, just as I directed you through Moses.

“你吩咐以色列人说：你们要照着我藉摩西所晓谕你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人说：‘你们要照我藉摩西所吩咐你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人说：‘你们要照我藉摩西所吩咐你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人，照我以前借摩西所吩咐你们的，设立一些城邑作为避难城，

“你要告诉以色列人：‘你们要照着我藉着摩西命令你们的，为自己设立避难城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：你們要照着我藉摩西所曉諭你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：『你們要照我藉摩西所吩咐你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：『你們要照我藉摩西所吩咐你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人，照我以前藉摩西所吩咐你們的，設立一些城邑作為避難城，

“你要告訴以色列人：‘你們要照著我藉著摩西命令你們的，為自己設立避難城，

『你要告訴以色列人說：「你們要照我由摩西經手所告訴你們的為自己設立逃罪城，

告以色列人云、當遵我藉摩西所命爾者、簡立逃城、

告以色列族云、昔我諭摩西、必有數邑為逋逃之藪、今當立之、

爾告以色列人云、當遵我昔託摩西所命爾者、擇逃避之邑、

“ Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

“ Say to the people of Israel,‘ Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

“ Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.

“ Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

“ Speak to the sons of Israel, saying,‘ Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

“ Speak to the children of Israel, saying:‘ Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses,

“ Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

“ Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses.

“ Speak to the children of Israel, saying,‘ Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses,

Then Moses set apart three cities east of the Jordan River.Suppose someone killed a person they didn’t hate and without meaning to do it. That person could run to one of those cities and stay alive.Here are the names of the cities. Bezer was for the people of Reuben. It was in the high plains in the desert. Ramoth was for the people of Gad. It was in Gilead. Golan was for the people of Manasseh. It was in Bashan.

“ Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities to go to for safety. A person who has killed someone can run to one of them. Also give the Levites 42 other towns.

When you do, choose the cities to go to for safety. People who have killed someone by accident can run to one of those cities.They will be places of safety for them. People will be safe there from those who want to kill them. Then anyone charged with murder will not die before their case has been brought to the community court.Six towns will be the cities you can go to for safety.Three will be east of the Jordan River. The other three will be in Canaan.Those six towns will be places where the Israelites can go for safety. Outsiders living in Israel can also go to them for safety. So anyone who has killed another person by accident can run there.“‘ Suppose a person uses an iron object to hit and kill someone. Then that person is a murderer and must be put to death.Or suppose a person is holding a stone that could kill. And they use it to hit and kill someone. Then that person is a murderer and must be put to death.Or suppose a person is holding a wooden object that could kill. And they use it to hit and kill someone. Then that person is a murderer and must be put to death.The dead person’s nearest male relative must kill the murderer. When he meets up with him, he must kill the murderer.What if a person makes evil plans against someone else? And what if that person pushes them so that they die? Or what if that person throws something at them so that they die?Or what if that person hits another person with a fist so that the other dies? Then the person who does any of those things must be put to death. That person is a murderer. The dead person’s nearest male relative must kill the murderer. When he meets up with him, he must kill the murderer.“‘ But what if a person suddenly pushes someone else without being angry? Or what if that person throws something at someone else without meaning to?Or what if that person does not see the other person and drops a stone on them that kills them? He was not the dead person’s enemy. He did not mean to harm them.Then the court must decide between the person who did the act and the nearest male relative of the one who was killed. Here are the rules the court must follow.

When you do, set apart for yourselves three cities in the land. It’s the land the Lord your God is giving you to take as your own.Figure out the distances and then separate the land into three parts. Then anyone who kills another person can run to one of these cities for safety. They are in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own.Here is the rule about a person who kills someone. That person can run to one of those cities for safety. The rule applies to anyone who kills a neighbor they didn’t hate and didn’t mean to kill.For example, suppose a man goes into a forest with his neighbor to cut wood. When he swings his ax to chop down a tree, the head of the ax flies off. And it hits his neighbor and kills him. Then that man can run to one of those cities and save his life.If he doesn’t go to one of those cities, the dead man’s nearest male relative might become very angry. He might chase the man. If the city is too far away, he might catch him and kill him. But the man running to the city isn’t worthy of death, because he didn’t hate his neighbor.That’s why I command you to set apart for yourselves three cities.The Lord your God will increase the size of your territory. He promised your people of long ago that he would do it. He will give you the whole land he promised them.But he’ll do it only if you are careful to obey all the laws I’m commanding you today. I command you to love the Lord your God. You must always live as he wants you to live. Suppose you are careful to obey, and the Lord your God gives you more land. Then you must set apart three more cities.Do it to protect those not guilty of murder. Then you won’t spill their blood in your land. It’s the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own.But suppose a man hates his neighbor. So he hides and waits for him. Then he attacks him and kills him. And he runs to one of those cities for safety.If he does, the elders of his own town must send for him. He must be brought back from the city. He must be handed over to the dead man’s nearest male relative. Then the relative will kill him.Don’t feel sorry for him. He has killed someone who hadn’t done anything wrong. Crimes like that must be punished in Israel. Then things will go well with you.

Who can bring any charge against God’s chosen ones? God makes us right with himself.Then who can sentence us to death? No one. Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God and is also praying for us. He died. More than that, he was raised to life.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment.

When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain.

Suppose they did not do it on purpose. Suppose I let it happen. Then they can escape to a place I will choose.But suppose they kill someone on purpose. Then take them away from my altar and put them to death.