Category Archives: Cities of Refuge

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 7

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I intend to consider another description of cities of refuge to fortify the conviction that Genesis 9:5, 6 was God’s description of his own attitude and behavior toward murderers post-flood.  But first I want to consider the reason given in Deuteronomy for cities of refuge.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:10 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 19:10 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:10 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:10 (English Elpenor)
that innocent (נָקִ֔י) blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. You must not shed innocent (nāqî, נקי) blood in your land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, for that would make you guilty. and innocent (ἀναίτιον) blood shall not be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you as an allotment, and there shall not be among you one guilty of blood. So innocent (ἀναίτιον) blood shall not be spilt in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit, and there shall not be in thee one guilty of blood.

The first occurrence of נָקִ֖י (nāqî) is instructive in this context.  Abraham had put his servant under oath (Genesis 24:1-4) to find a wife for Isaac among his own people.  Abraham’s servant explained his mission and the limits of the oath to Rebekah’s brother Laban (Genesis 24:28-33):

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Genesis 24:41 (Tanakh) Table Genesis 24:41 (NET) Genesis 24:41 (NETS)

Genesis 24:41 (English Elpenor)
then shalt thou be clear (תִּנָּקֶה֙) from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear (נָקִ֖י) from my oath. You will be free (nāqâ, תנקה) from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you.  Then you will be free (nāqî, נקי) from your oath.’ Then you will be free (ἀθῷος) from my curse; indeed, when perchance you come to my tribe and they do not give her to you, then you will be free (ἀθῷος) from my adjuration.’ Then shalt thou be clear (ἀθῷος) from my curse, for whensoever thou shalt have come to my tribe, and they shall not give her to thee, then shalt thou be clear (ἀθῷος) from my oath.

Abraham didn’t want his servant to abduct a young woman from his relatives to fulfill that oath.  The innocent (nāqî, נקי) blood above refers primarily to those who have killed someone but were not deserving of death:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:6 (Tanakh) Table Deuteronomy 19:6 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:6 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:6 (English Elpenor)
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving (מִשְׁפַּט) of death (מָ֔וֶת), inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, and kill him, though this is not a capital case (Note 16: “no judgment [mišpāṭ, משפט] of death [māveṯ, מות]”) since he did not hate him at the time of the accident. lest the avenger of blood pursue after the murderer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him—if the road was rather long—and he strike his soul, and he dies, and to this one there is not a death (θανάτου) sentence (κρίσις), since he did not hate him before yesterday and before the third day. Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence (κρίσις) of death (θανάτου), because he hated him not in time past.

Everything about the cities of refuge sounds like an attempt to rein in an ongoing killing spree.  I don’t really doubt or dispute that.  The Lord’s instruction to Joshua bears it out:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Joshua 20:1-3 (Tanakh) Joshua 20:1-3 (NET) Joshua 20:1-3 (NETS)

Joshua 20:1-3 (English Elpenor)
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, The Lord instructed Joshua: And the Lord spoke to Iesous, saying, And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,
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 sons of Israel, saying, ‘Give the cities of places of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moyses, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign the cities of refuge, [of] which I spoke to you by Moses.
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. a place of refuge for the slayer who has smitten a soul involuntarily, and the cities shall be for you a place of refuge, and the slayer shall not die by the next of kin in blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment. [Even] a refuge to the slayer who has smitten a man unintentionally; and the cities shall be to you a refuge, and the slayer shall not be put to death by the avenger of blood, until he have stood before the congregation for judgment.

There is some additional instruction in the Masoretic text that is not found in the BLB Septuagint.  The Elpenor Septuagint has verses 4-6 in Greek at the end of the chapter with the note Εκ τοῦ κώδ. Α, which I have understood as “from codex A.”

The Codex Alexandrinus…is a fifth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible…containing the majority of the Greek Old Testament and the Greek New Testament.[1]

These verses were not translated into English in the Elpenor Septuagint, so I have placed the portion of verse 3 that was not in the Masoretic text in the table below.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Joshua 20:4-6 (Tanakh) Joshua 20:4-6 (NET) Joshua 20:3b (NETS)

Joshua 20:3b (English Elpenor)
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering 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. The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. and the slayer shall not die by the next of kin in blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment. and the slayer shall not be put to death by the avenger of blood, until he have stood before the congregation for judgment.
And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation.
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly, and the high priest dies.  Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.”

Here are the cities of refuge by name:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Joshua 20:7, 8 (Tanakh) Joshua 20:7, 8 (NET) Joshua 20:7, 8 (NETS)

Joshua 20:7, 8 (English Elpenor)
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. So they selected 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. And he set apart Kades in Galilee in the mountain of Naphtali.  And Sychem in the mountain of Ephraim and the city of Arbok (this is Chebron) in the mountain of Ioudas. And Joshua separated Cades in Galilee in the mount Nephthali, and Sychem in the mount Ephraim, and the city of Arboc; this is Chebron, in the mountain of Juda.
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the wilderness on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. And beyond the Jordan he gave Bosor in the wilderness on the plain, out of the tribe of Rouben, and Aremoth in Galaad, out of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Basantis, out of the tribe of Manasse. And beyond Jordan he appointed Bosor in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Ruben, and Aremoth in Galaad out of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in the country of Basan out of the tribe of Manasse.

A final statement of purpose follows:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Joshua 20:9 (Tanakh) Joshua 20:9 (NET) Joshua 20:9 (NETS)

Joshua 20:9 (English Elpenor)
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. These were the cities designated for the sons of Israel and for the guest abiding among them, that anyone who smites a soul involuntarily may flee there so that he will not die by the hand of the next of kin in blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment. These [were] the cities selected for the sons of Israel, and for the stranger abiding among them, that every one who smites a soul unintentionally should flee thither, that he should not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he should stand before the congregation for judgment.

The entry—AVENGER OF BLOOD—in the Jewish Encyclopedia online offers an evolutionary explanation of all this:

Among primitive peoples of low political development—such as the ancient Greeks, Germans, and Slavs, some North American tribes, the modern Sicilians, Corsicans, and Arabs—the clan or family had to assume the right to protect itself. One of the most important clan duties then was plainly for the nearest of kin to hunt down and carry out the death-penalty on a person that had slain a member of the sept or family. That this idea of family retribution—which even to-day is by no means extinct in some comparatively civilized communities—was also current among the ancient Hebrews may be seen from Gen. xxvii. 45, where the existence of the custom is clearly taken for granted….

Such a stern system, however, could not, of course, survive unmodified after the community had begun to advance from the purely savage state. Abuses of the privilege of blood-revenge must have soon become evident to the tribal chiefs, as one finds in Ex. xxi. 12 (compare Gen. ix. 6) that the commonly accepted formula that a life must be given for a life is modified by a careful legal distinction between wilful murder and accidental manslaughter….

The later codes develop at some length the very just distinction between wilful murder and accidental homicide (see Murder). Six Cities of Refuge were appointed for the purpose of affording an asylum to the homicide, where he might be secure from the hand of the avenger (Deut. xix. 12) until the elders of the community of which the accused was a member should decide whether the murder was intentional or accidental (Num. xxxv. 9-34; Deut. xix. 1-13; Josh. xx.).

God knew “the very just distinction between wilful murder and accidental homicide” when he warned every man on the planet of his own changed attitude and behavior toward murderers.  By “changed” I mean different than both his mercy shown to Cain after Abel’s murder (Genesis 4:8-16) and his own decision to never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done[2] in the flood.  Abraham didn’t want to involve his servant in the abduction of a young woman.  I’m sure God didn’t want to involve his servants in the shedding of innocent blood.

In other words, I’m fairly confident now that בָּֽאָדָ֖ם, translated by man (Tanakh, KJV) and by other humans (NET), was added to the Masoretic text sometime after the Septuagint was translated from Hebrew.  God warned Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:5, 6 NETS):

For truly, your blood of your lives I will seek out: from the hand of all the animals I will seek it out, and from the hand of a fellow human I will seek out the life of the human [Table].  As for the one who sheds a human’s blood, in return for this blood shall it be shed.  For by divine image I made humankind [Table].

There is a listing in Genesis 10 of several generations from Noah after the flood without any mention of a murder.  While I realize that no mention of murder is not quite the same thing as no murder for all of those generations, it prompts me to recognize that I don’t need any evolutionary speculation here.  All I need do is consult the human heart.  Once murder began to occur again would people trust God to avenge it?  How often do people trust God to do anything? much less revenge when it’s personal?

Paul wrote of the love that is the fulfillment of the law, an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, springing up to eternal life in all born from above through Jesus’ faithfulness (Romans 12:16-21 NET):

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.  Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends (ἀγαπητοί, a form of ἀγαπητός), but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head[3] [Table].  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 19:10; Genesis 24:41; Joshua 20:1; 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:5; 20:6; 20:7; 20:8 and 20:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Deuteronomy 19:10; Genesis 24:41; Joshua 20:1; 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:5; 20:6; 20:7; 20:8 and 20:9 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Deuteronomy 19:10 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:10 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:10 (NET)
that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. You must not shed innocent blood in your land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, for that would make you guilty.

Deuteronomy 19:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐκ ἐκχυθήσεται αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ γῇ σου ᾗ κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι ἐν κλήρῳ καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ αἵματι ἔνοχος καὶ οὐκ ἐκχυθήσεται αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ γῇ, ᾗ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ αἵματι ἔνοχος

Deuteronomy 19:10 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:10 (English Elpenor)
and innocent blood shall not be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you as an allotment, and there shall not be among you one guilty of blood. So innocent blood shall not be spilt in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit, and there shall not be in thee one guilty of blood.

Genesis 24:41 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 24:41 (KJV)

Genesis 24:41 (NET)
then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath. Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you.  Then you will be free from your oath.’

Genesis 24:41 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 24:41 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τότε ἀθῷος ἔσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρᾶς μου ἡνίκα γὰρ ἐὰν ἔλθῃς εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν φυλὴν καὶ μή σοι δῶσιν καὶ ἔσῃ ἀθῷος ἀπὸ τοῦ ὁρκισμοῦ μου τότε ἀθῷος ἔσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρᾶς μου· ἡνίκα γὰρ ἐὰν ἔλθῃς εἰς τὴν φυλήν μου καὶ μή σοι δῶσι, καὶ ἔσῃ ἀθῷος ἀπὸ τοῦ ὁρκισμοῦ μου

Genesis 24:41 (NETS)

Genesis 24:41 (English Elpenor)
Then you will be free from my curse; indeed, when perchance you come to my tribe and they do not give her to you, then you will be free from my adjuration.’ Then shalt thou be clear from my curse, for whensoever thou shalt have come to my tribe, and they shall not give her to thee, then shalt thou be clear from my oath.

Joshua 20:1 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:1 (KJV)

Joshua 20:1 (NET)
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, The Lord instructed Joshua:

Joshua 20:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῗ λέγων ΚΑΙ ἐλάλησε Κύριος τῷ ᾿Ιησοῖ λέγων

Joshua 20:1 (NETS)

Joshua 20:1 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord spoke to Iesous, saying, And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

Joshua 20:2 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:2 (KJV)

Joshua 20:2 (NET)
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of 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.

Joshua 20:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
λάλησον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ λέγων δότε τὰς πόλεις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων ἃς εἶπα πρὸς ὑμᾶς διὰ Μωυσῆ λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· δότε τὰς πόλεις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων, ἃς εἶπα πρὸς ὑμᾶς διὰ Μωυσῆ

Joshua 20:2 (NETS)

Joshua 20:2 (English Elpenor)
“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Give the cities of places of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moyses, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign the cities of refuge, [of] which I spoke to you by Moses.
Joshua 20:3 (Tanakh) Joshua 20:3 (KJV)

Joshua 20:3 (NET)
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
φυγαδευτήριον τῷ φονευτῇ τῷ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῗν αἱ πόλεις φυγαδευτήριον καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῗται ὁ φονευτὴς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἐναντίον τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν φυγαδευτήριον τῷ φονευτῇ τῷ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως, καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῖν αἱ πόλεις φυγαδευτήριον, καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται ὁ φονευτὴς ὑπό τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα, ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἐναντίον τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν

Joshua 20:3 (NETS)

Joshua 20:3 (English Elpenor)
a place of refuge for the slayer who has smitten a soul involuntarily, and the cities shall be for you a place of refuge, and the slayer shall not die by the next of kin in blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment. [Even] a refuge to the slayer who has smitten a man unintentionally; and the cities shall be to you a refuge, and the slayer shall not be put to death by the avenger of blood, until he have stood before the congregation for judgment.

Joshua 20:4 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:4 (KJV)

Joshua 20:4 (NET)
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering 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. And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering 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. The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there.

Joshua 20:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

n/a

 Καὶ φεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ στήσεται ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς πόλεως καὶ λαλήσει ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης τοὺς λόγους τούτους καὶ ἐπιστρέψουσιν αὐτὸν ἡ συναγωγὴ πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ δώσουσιν αὐτῷ τόπον καὶ κατοικήσει μετ’ αὐτῶν

Joshua 20:4 (NETS)

Joshua 20:4 (English Elpenor)

n/a

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Joshua 20:5 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:5 (KJV)

Joshua 20:5 (NET)
And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation.

Joshua 20:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

n/a

 καὶ ὅτι διώξεται ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ συγκλείσουσι τὸν φονεύσαντα ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰδὼς ἐπάταξε τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸς αὐτὸν ἀπ’ ἐχθὲς καὶ τῆς τρίτης

Joshua 20:5 (NETS)

Joshua 20:5 (English Elpenor)

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Joshua 20:6 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:6 (KJV)

Joshua 20:6 (NET)
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly, and the high priest dies.  Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.”

Joshua 20:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

n/a

 καὶ κατοικήσει ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ ἕως στῇ κατὰ πρόσωπον τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν ἕως ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, ὃς ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις· τότε ἐπιστρέψει ὁ φονεύσας καὶ ἐλεύσεται εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ πρὸς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ πρὸς πόλιν ὅθεν ἔφυγεν ἐκεῖθεν

Joshua 20:6 (NETS)

Joshua 20:6 (English Elpenor)

n/a

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Joshua 20:7 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:7 (KJV)

Joshua 20:7 (NET)
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. So they selected 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.

Joshua 20:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ διέστειλεν τὴν Καδης ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Νεφθαλι καὶ Συχεμ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ καὶ τὴν πόλιν Αρβοκ αὕτη ἐστὶν Χεβρων ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Ιουδα καὶ διέστειλε τὴν Κάδης ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Νεφθαλὶ καὶ Συχὲμ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ ᾿Εφραὶμ καὶ τὴν πόλιν ᾿Αρβὸκ (αὕτη ἐστὶ Χεβρών) ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ ᾿Ιούδα.

Joshua 20:7 (NETS)

Joshua 20:7 (English Elpenor)
And he set apart Kades in Galilee in the mountain of Naphtali.  And Sychem in the mountain of Ephraim and the city of Arbok (this is Chebron) in the mountain of Ioudas. And Joshua separated Cades in Galilee in the mount Nephthali, and Sychem in the mount Ephraim, and the city of Arboc; this is Chebron, in the mountain of Juda.

Joshua 20:8 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:8 (KJV)

Joshua 20:8 (NET)
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the wilderness on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 20:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἔδωκεν Βοσορ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ ἀπὸ τῆς φυλῆς Ρουβην καὶ Αρημωθ ἐν τῇ Γαλααδ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Γαδ καὶ τὴν Γαυλων ἐν τῇ Βασανίτιδι ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ἔδωκε Βοσὸρ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ ἀπὸ τῆς φυλῆς Ῥουβὴν καὶ ᾿Αρημὼθ ἐν τῇ Γαλαὰδ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Γάδ, καὶ τὴν Γαυλὼν ἐν τῇ Βασανίτιδι ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Μανασσῆ

Joshua 20:8 (NETS)

Joshua 20:8 (English Elpenor)
And beyond the Jordan he gave Bosor in the wilderness on the plain, out of the tribe of Rouben, and Aremoth in Galaad, out of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Basantis, out of the tribe of Manasse. And beyond Jordan he appointed Bosor in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Ruben, and Aremoth in Galaad out of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in the country of Basan out of the tribe of Manasse.

Joshua 20:9 (Tanakh)

 Joshua 20:9 (KJV)

Joshua 20:9 (NET)
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.

Joshua 20:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 20:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
αὗται αἱ πόλεις αἱ ἐπίκλητοι τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ τῷ προσκειμένῳ ἐν αὐτοῗς καταφυγεῗν ἐκεῗ παντὶ παίοντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν αὗται αἱ πόλεις αἱ ἐπίκλητοι τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ τῷ προσκειμένῳ ἐν αὐτοῖς καταφυγεῖν ἐκεῖ παντὶ παίοντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα, ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν.

Joshua 20:9 (NETS)

Joshua 20:9 (English Elpenor)
These were the cities designated for the sons of Israel and for the guest abiding among them, that anyone who smites a soul involuntarily may flee there so that he will not die by the hand of the next of kin in blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment. These [were] the cities selected for the sons of Israel, and for the stranger abiding among them, that every one who smites a soul unintentionally should flee thither, that he should not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he should stand before the congregation for judgment.

 

[1] Codex Alexandrinus

[2] Genesis 8:21b (NET) Table

[3] See a comparison of the Greek of this quotation with that of the the Septuagint.

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 6

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I intend to consider another description of cities of refuge to fortify the conviction that Genesis 9:5, 6 was God’s description of his own attitude and behavior toward murderers post-flood.  He knew his own heart, his own judgments.  There was no need for the detail and specificity found later in the law when that duty and authority was actually delegated to human beings.  But first I want to consider something gleaned from the previous essay.

If I killed someone unintentionally in ancient Israel, fled to a city of refuge, was found not guilty of murder by the community and lived in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, I would have kept the law.  Likewise, if I murdered someone intentionally in ancient Israel, fled to a city of refuge, was found guilty of murder by the community, was handed over to the avenger of blood and executed, I would have kept the law.  But would anyone declare me righteous before God?  Or have I simply been brought to the knowledge of sin through the law?

Paul wrote (Romans 3:19, 20 NET):

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

A note (22) in the NET claimed that no one is declared righteous before him was an allusion to Psalm 143:2.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Psalm 143:2 (Tanakh) Psalm 143:2 (NET) Psalm 142:2 (NETS)

Psalm 142:2 (English Elpenor)
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified (יִצְדַּ֖ק). Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent (ṣāḏaq, יצדק) before you. And do not enter into judgment with your slave, because no one living will be counted righteous (δικαιωθήσεται) before you. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified (δικαιωθήσεται).

My purpose in this thread is to understand the Old Testament as Jesus understood it: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’[1]  He seemed legitimately surprised by Nicodemus’ ignorance: Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?[2]  John described what it meant to be born from above (John 1:11-13):

[Jesus] came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.  But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

Paul described some of the results of being born from above (Romans 8:5-14 NET):

God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh.  By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled (πληρωθῇ, a form of πληρόω) in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.  For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  You, however, are not in the flesh but[3] in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him [Table].  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness.  Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you [Table].

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

And Paul continued (Galatians 5:14-24 NET):

For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”  However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another [Table].  But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want [Table].  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things.  I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God [Table]!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,[4] and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law:[5] You shall not murder.[6]  It was easy to see how God’s own love springing up to eternal life from his Holy Spirit residing in me could keep me from intentional killing.  How the fruit of his Spirit restrained unintentional killing took a bit longer to comprehend.  God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control springing up to eternal life also impacts how I work. When I am led by the Holy Spirit I am much less likely to shove someone impatiently or toss something without looking to see where it might land.

I began then to think of OSHA regulations as an attempt to legislate the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  My religious mind did the same thing when I turned Paul’s definition of love (ἀγάπη) into rules I tried to obey in my own strength, before I believed that the fruit of the Spirit is the righteousness given by God (Romans 3:21-24 NET).

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed—namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction [Table], for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  But they are justified (δικαιούμενοι, another form of δικαιόω) freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, Jesus said.  I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill (πληρῶσαι, another form of πληρόω) them.[7]

The next description of cities of refuge is found in Deuteronomy.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (English Elpenor)
When HaShem thy G-d shall cut off the nations, whose land HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses; When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is about to give you and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and houses, Now if the Lord your God annihilates the nations whose land your God is giving you and you dispossess them and live in their cities and in their houses, And when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, [even] the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,
thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy GOD giveth thee to possess it. you must set apart for yourselves three cities in the middle of your land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession. you shall set apart three cities for yourself in the  midst of your land that the Lord your God is giving you. thou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.
Thou shalt prepare (תָּכִ֣ין) thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither. You shall build (kûn, תכין) a roadway and divide into thirds the whole extent of your land that the Lord your God is providing as your inheritance; anyone who kills another person should flee to the closest of these cities. Calculate (στόχασαί) for yourself the distance, and you shall divide into three regions your land that the Lord your God apportions you, and there shall be a refuge there for every murderer. Take a survey (στόχασαί) of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.

It is interesting to note that though the NET translators understood תָּכִ֣ין (kûn) as a road building project, the rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood it as στόχασαί (a form of στοχάζω), a calculation of distance or a survey.  Six cities of refuge were still the plan but were predicated on Israel’s faith and obedience.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (English Elpenor)
And if HaShem thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers– If the Lord your God enlarges your borders as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land he pledged to them, But if the Lord your God enlarges your borders, as he swore to your fathers, and he gives you all the land that he said he would give your fathers, And if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;
if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love HaShem thy G-d, and to walk ever in His ways—then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three; and then you are careful to observe all these commandments I am giving you today (namely, to love the Lord your God and to always walk in his ways), then you must add three more cities to these three. —if you give heed to do all these commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways all the days—then you shall add for yourself three more cities to these three, if thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.

The law specified again who the cities of refuge were for:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (English Elpenor)
And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past; Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident. Now this is the ordinance for a murderer who flees there and shall live: He who strikes his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him before yesterday or before the third day, And this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live; Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies.  The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself. and he who goes into the forest with his neighbor to gather wood and his hand is knocked aside when he cuts the wood with the ax, and the iron slips from the wood and happens to strike his neighbor, and he dies, this one shall flee to one of these cities and live, And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, [NET note 14: “and overtake him, for the road is long”] and kill him, though this is not a capital case since he did not hate him at the time of the accident. lest the avenger of blood pursue after the murderer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him—if the road was rather long—and he strike his soul, and he dies, and to this one there is not a death sentence, since he did not hate him before yesterday and before the third day. Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.
Wherefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.’ Therefore, I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities. Therefore I command you this thing, saying: You shall set apart three cities for yourself. Therefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.

Likewise, the law specified who should not be allowed to remain in a city of refuge:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (NET) Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (English Elpenor)
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities; However, suppose a person hates someone else and stalks him, attacks him, kills him, and then flees to one of these cities. But if there be a person hating his neighbor and he lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes his life and he dies and flees into one of these cities, But if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,
then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger to die. then the council of elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, and he shall die. then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.
Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee. You must not pity him, but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you. Your eye shall not be sparing toward him, and you shall cleanse the innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with you. Thine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.

I’ll finish this example and consider one more example in another essay.

A comparison/contrast of the Greek of Romans 3:20a and Psalm 143:2b (142:2b) in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 3:20a (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 143:2b (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 142:2b (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν

Romans 3:20a (NET)

 Psalm 142:2b (NETS)

Psalm 142:2b (English Elpenor)
no one is declared righteous before him no one living will be counted righteous before you. in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified.

Tables comparing Psalm 143:2; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 19:1; 19:2; 19:3; 19:8; 19:9; 19:4; 19:5; 19:6; 19:7; 19:11; 19:12 and 19:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 143:2 (142:2); Exodus 20:13 (20:15); Deuteronomy 19:1; 19:2; 19:3; 19:8; 19:19; 19:4; 19:5; 19:6; 19:7; 19:11; 19:12 and 19:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Galatians 5:23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:2 (Tanakh)

 Psalm 143:2 (KJV)

Psalm 143:2 (NET)
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.

Psalm 143:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 142:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς κρίσιν μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου ὅτι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν καὶ μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς κρίσιν μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου, ὅτι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν

Psalm 142:2 (NETS)

Psalm 142:2 (English Elpenor)
And do not enter into judgment with your slave, because no one living will be counted righteous before you. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)

 Exodus 20:13 (KJV)

Exodus 20:13 (NET)
Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not kill. “You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ φονεύσεις οὐ φονεύσεις

Exodus 20:15 (NETS)

Exodus 20:15 (English Elpenor)
You shall not murder. Thou shalt not kill.

Deuteronomy 19:1 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:1 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:1 (NET)
When HaShem thy G-d shall cut off the nations, whose land HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses; When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is about to give you and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and houses,

Deuteronomy 19:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἀφανίσῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσητε ἐν ταῗς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῗς οἴκοις αὐτῶν ΕΑΝ δὲ ἀφανίσῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσί σοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσετε ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις αὐτῶν

Deuteronomy 19:1 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:1 (English Elpenor)
Now if the Lord your God annihilates the nations whose land your God is giving you and you dispossess them and live in their cities and in their houses, And when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, [even] the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,

Deuteronomy 19:2 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:2 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:2 (NET)
thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy GOD giveth thee to possess it. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. you must set apart for yourselves three cities in the middle of your land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession.

Deuteronomy 19:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τρεῗς πόλεις διαστελεῗς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι

Deuteronomy 19:2 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:2 (English Elpenor)
you shall set apart three cities for yourself in the  midst of your land that the Lord your God is giving you. thou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.

Deuteronomy 19:3 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:3 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:3 (NET)
Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. You shall build a roadway and divide into thirds the whole extent of your land that the Lord your God is providing as your inheritance; anyone who kills another person should flee to the closest of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
στόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τριμεριεῗς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου ἣν καταμερίζει σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου καὶ ἔσται καταφυγὴ ἐκεῗ παντὶ φονευτῇ στόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τριμεριεῖς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου, ἣν καταμερίζει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ ἔσται ἐκεῖ καταφυγὴ παντὶ φονευτῇ

Deuteronomy 19:3 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:3 (English Elpenor)
Calculate for yourself the distance, and you shall divide into three regions your land that the Lord your God apportions you, and there shall be a refuge there for every murderer. Take a survey of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.

Deuteronomy 19:8 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:8 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:8 (NET)
And if HaShem thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers– And if Jehovah thy God enlarge thy border, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; If the Lord your God enlarges your borders as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land he pledged to them,

Deuteronomy 19:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσεν τοῗς πατράσιν σου καὶ δῷ σοι κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἣν εἶπεν δοῦναι τοῗς πατράσιν σου ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, καὶ δῷ σοι Κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν εἶπε δοῦναι τοῖς πατράσι σου,

Deuteronomy 19:8 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:8 (English Elpenor)
But if the Lord your God enlarges your borders, as he swore to your fathers, and he gives you all the land that he said he would give your fathers, And if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;

Deuteronomy 19:9 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:9 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:9 (NET)
if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love HaShem thy G-d, and to walk ever in His ways–then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three; If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: and then you are careful to observe all these commandments I am giving you today (namely, to love the Lord your God and to always walk in his ways), then you must add three more cities to these three.

Deuteronomy 19:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῗν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεόν σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ προσθήσεις σεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῗς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῗς ταύτας ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, προσθήσεις σεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῖς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῖς ταύτας,

Deuteronomy 19:9 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:9 (English Elpenor)
—if you give heed to do all these commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways all the days—then you shall add for yourself three more cities to these three, if thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.

Deuteronomy 19:4 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:4 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:4 (NET)
And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past; And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident.

Deuteronomy 19:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῗ καὶ ζήσεται ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἀκουσίως καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ, ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῖ καὶ ζήσεται· ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰδὼς καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθὲς καὶ τρίτης

Deuteronomy 19:4 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:4 (English Elpenor)
Now this is the ordinance for a murderer who flees there and shall live: He who strikes his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him before yesterday or before the third day, And this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.

Deuteronomy 19:5 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:5 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:5 (NET)
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live; As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies.  The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.

Deuteronomy 19:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὃς ἂν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῗν ξύλα καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον καὶ ἀποθάνῃ οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ ζήσεται καὶ ὃς ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῖν ξύλα, καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον, καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ ζήσεται

Deuteronomy 19:5 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:5 (English Elpenor)
and he who goes into the forest with his neighbor to gather wood and his hand is knocked aside when he cuts the wood with the ax, and the iron slips from the wood and happens to strike his neighbor, and he dies, this one shall flee to one of these cities and live, And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.

Deuteronomy 19:6 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:6 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:6 (NET)
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, and kill him, though this is not a capital case since he did not hate him at the time of the accident.

Deuteronomy 19:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτόν ἐὰν μακροτέρα ᾖ ἡ ὁδός καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχήν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστιν κρίσις θανάτου ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ἵνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος, ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτόν, ἐὰν μακροτέρα ᾖ ἡ ὁδός, καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστι κρίσις θανάτου, ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθές, οὐδὲ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης

Deuteronomy 19:6 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:6 (English Elpenor)
lest the avenger of blood pursue after the murderer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him—if the road was rather long—and he strike his soul, and he dies, and to this one there is not a death sentence, since he did not hate him before yesterday and before the third day. Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.

Deuteronomy 19:7 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:7 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:7 (NET)
Wherefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.’ Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. Therefore, I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.

Deuteronomy 19:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο λέγων τρεῗς πόλεις διαστελεῗς σεαυτῷ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο λέγων· τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ

Deuteronomy 19:7 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:7 (English Elpenor)
Therefore I command you this thing, saying: You shall set apart three cities for yourself. Therefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.

Deuteronomy 19:11 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:11 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:11 (NET)
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities; But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: However, suppose a person hates someone else and stalks him, attacks him, kills him, and then flees to one of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ γένηται ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν καὶ ἀπεθάνῃ καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων ἐὰ[8] δὲ γένηται ἐν σοὶ ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων

Deuteronomy 19:11 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:11 (English Elpenor)
But if there be a person hating his neighbor and he lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes his life and he dies and flees into one of these cities, But if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,

Deuteronomy 19:12 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:12 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:12 (NET)
then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger to die.

Deuteronomy 19:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήμψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῗθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῗρας τῷ ἀγχιστεύοντι τοῦ αἵματος καὶ ἀποθανεῗται καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων τοῦ αἵματος, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται

Deuteronomy 19:12 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:12 (English Elpenor)
then the council of elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, and he shall die. then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.

Deuteronomy 19:13 (Tanakh)

 Deuteronomy 19:13 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:13 (NET)
Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. You must not pity him, but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

Deuteronomy 19:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 19:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ καὶ καθαριεῗς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ Ισραηλ καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ καὶ καθαριεῖς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται

Deuteronomy 19:13 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 19:13 (English Elpenor)
Your eye shall not be sparing toward him, and you shall cleanse the innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with you. Thine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.

Galatians 5:23 (NET)

Galatians 5:23 (KJV)
gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πραΰτης ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος πραοτης εγκρατεια κατα των τοιουτων ουκ εστιν νομος πραοτης εγκρατεια κατα των τοιουτων ουκ εστιν νομος

[1] John 3:7 (NET)

[2] John 3:10 (NET) Table

[3] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ἀλλ’.

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πραΰτης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πραοτης (KJV: Meekness).

[5] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[6] Exodus 20:13 (NET)

[7] Matthew 5:17 (NET)

[8] This may be a typo in the Elpenor Septuagint.

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 5

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After the flood God spoke to Noah and his sons.[1]

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Genesis 9:5, 6 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:5, 6 (NET) Genesis 9:5, 6 (NETS)

Genesis 9:5, 6 (English Elpenor)
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment.  From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative. For truly, your blood of your lives I will seek out: from the hand of all the animals I will seek it out, and from the hand of a fellow human I will seek out the life of the human. For your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of [his] brother man.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם) shall his blood be shed; for in the image of G-d made He man. “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans (‘āḏām, באדם) must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind. As for the one who sheds a human’s blood, in return for this blood shall it be shed.  For by divine image I made humankind. He that sheds man’s blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man.

Rashi’s commentary reads:

through man shall his blood be shed: If there are witnesses, you kill him. Why? “For in the image of God, etc.”

In another essay, reading only from the Masoretic text, I called this “a righteous expectation of the law God gave Noah and his sons after the flood.”  I wrote, “God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) spoke one law to address violence” in another.  And in another, even after checking the Septuagint but not yet giving it the weight I do today, I used this “law” to justify killing the Canaanites: “In this sense then Israel’s army became a limited cleansing flood, as opposed to the flood yehôvâh promised not to unleash again to destroy the earth.”

The Septuagint doesn’t include the phrase by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם), or by other humans (NET).  It is entirely possible that אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘ĕlōhîm) described his own attitude and actions toward murderers henceforward rather than delegating that authority to human beings through a law, regardless if human beings understood his words as open season on those who killed their loved ones.

He said: your blood of your lives will I require (אֶדְר֔שׁ), I will surely exact punishment[2] (NET), I will seek out (ἐκζητήσω), will I require it (אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ), I will exact punishment (NET), I will seek it out (ἐκζητήσω), will I require (English Elpenor), will I require (אֶדְר֖שׁ) the life of man (Tanakh), I will exact punishment (NET), I will seek out (ἐκζητήσω), and I will require (English Elpenor).

At any rate it finally got through to me how I may be blaspheming God and the law by calling this brief passage law.  When this issue is finally addressed in the law it is described in detail and in the context of cities of refuge:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Numbers 35:9-11 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:9-11 (NET) Numbers 35:9-11 (NETS)

Numbers 35:9-11 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: Then the Lord spoke to Moses: And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: As for you, you are crossing the Jordan into the land of Chanaan, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Ye are to cross over Jordan into the land of Chanaan.
then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person through error may flee thither. you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. and you shall set aside for yourselves cities; they shall be places of refuge for you for the murderer to flee there, everyone who strikes a soul unintentionally. And ye shall appoint to yourselves cities: they shall be to you cities of refuge for the slayer to flee to, every one who has killed another unintentionally.

As one might expect, the legal concept through error (בִּשְׁגָגָֽה) or unintentionally (ἀκουσίως) was spelled out in some detail in the law:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Numbers 35:22-25 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:22-25 (NET) Numbers 35:22-25 (NETS)

Numbers 35:22-25 (English Elpenor)
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait, [Table] “But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally But if he pushes him suddenly, not out of enmity, or throws at him any object not from an ambush But if he should thrust him suddenly, not through enmity, or cast any thing upon him, not from an ambuscade,
or with any stone, whereby a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; [Table] or with any stone large enough that a man could die, without seeing him, and throws it at him, and he dies, even though he was not his enemy nor sought his harm, or with any stone—by which he may die—unknowingly, and it falls upon him and he dies but he is not his enemy nor was he seeking to harm him, or [smite him] with any stone, whereby a man may die, unawares, and it should fall upon him, and he should die, but he was not his enemy, nor sought to hurt him;
then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances; [Table] then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions. then the congregation shall judge between the striker and between the one doing the relative’s blood duty, according to these judgments, then the assembly shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood, according to these judgments.
and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he was fled; and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil [Table]. The community must deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the community must restore him to the town of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the consecrated oil. and the congregation shall rescue the one that committed murder from the one doing the relative’s blood duty.  And the congregation shall restore him to the city of his place of refuge, where he fled for refuge.  And he shall live there until the great priest dies, him whom they anointed with the holy oil. And the congregation shall rescue the slayer from the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he fled for refuge; and he shall dwell there till the death of the high-priest, whom they anointed with the holy oil.

This was contrasted to the conditions that called for a guilty verdict and the death penalty:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint

Numbers 35:16-21 (Tanakh)

 Numbers 35:16-21 (NET) Numbers 35:16-21 (NETS)

Numbers 35:16-21 (English Elpenor)
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. “‘But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death. But if he strikes him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with an iron instrument, and the man should die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
And if he smote him with a stone in the hand (יָד֩), whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. If he strikes him by throwing (yāḏ, יד) a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death. Now if he strikes him with a stone out of hand (ἐκ χειρός)—by which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with a stone [thrown] from his hand (ἐκ χειρός), whereby a man may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand (יָד֩), whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand (yāḏ, יד) weapon so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death. Now if he strikes him with a wooden instrument out of hand (ἐκ χειρός)—from which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with an instrument of wood from his hand (ἐκ χειρός), whereby he may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death. The avenger of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him. As for the one doing the relative’s blood duty, he shall kill the one that committed murder; when he meets up with him, he shall kill him. The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: whensoever he shall meet him he shall slay him.
And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him any thing, lying in wait, so that he died; [Table] “‘But if he strikes him out of hatred or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies, Now if out of enmity he pushes him and hurls at him any object from an ambush and he dies And if he should thrust him through enmity, or cast any thing upon him from an ambuscade, and the man should die,
or in enmity smote him with his hand, that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death: he is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meeteth him [Table]. or with enmity he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death, for he is a murderer.  The avenger of blood must kill the murderer when he meets him. or out of rage he struck him with the hand and he dies, let the one who struck be put to death by death—he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death; the one doing the relative’s blood duty shall strike the one that committed murder when he meets him. or if he have smitten him with his hand through anger, and the man should die, let the man that smote him be put to death by all means, he is a murderer: let the murderer by all means be put to death: the avenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meets him.

The law continued to clarify the meaning of the cities of refuge:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Numbers 35:12-15 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:12-15 (NET) Numbers 35:12-15 (NETS) Numbers 35:12-15 (English Elpenor)
And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment. And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. And the cities shall be for you places of refuge from one doing the relative’s blood duty, and the one that commits murder will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. And the cities shall be to you places of refuge from the avenger of blood, and the slayer shall not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
And as to the cities which ye shall give, there shall be for you six cities of refuge. These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge. And the cities that you give as the six cities shall be places of refuge for you. And the cities which ye shall assign, [even] the six cities, shall be places of refuge for you.
Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. “‘You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge. Three cities you shall give beyond the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Chanaan. Ye shall assign three cities on the other side of Jordan, and ye shall assign three cities in the land of Chanaan.
For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the settler among them, shall these six cities be for refuge, that every one that killeth any person through error may flee thither. These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the resident foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there. They shall be an asylum for the sons of Israel and for the guest and for the resident alien among you.  These cities shall be a place of refuge for everyone to flee there when he strikes a soul unintentionally. It shall be a place of refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for him that sojourns among you; these cities shall be for a place of refuge, for every one to flee thither who has killed a man unintentionally.

While the city of refuge was not exactly house arrest, it was an enforceable exile for an indeterminate period of time.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Numbers 35:26-28 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:26-28 (NET) Numbers 35:26-28 (NETS) Numbers 35:26-28 (English Elpenor)
But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth; But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled, But if he that commits murder by an exit leaves the bounds of the city, there where he fled for refuge, But if the slayer should in any wise go out beyond the bounds of the city whither he fled for refuge,
and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him; and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood, and the one doing the relative’s blood duty finds him outside the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the one doing the relative’s blood duty kills the one that committed murder, he is not liable. and the avenger of blood should find him without the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood should kill the slayer, he is not guilty.
because he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return into the land of his possession. because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest.  But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions. For let him live in the city of refuge until the great priest dies, and after the great priest dies, he that committed murder shall return to the land of his possession. For he ought to have remained in the city of refuge till the high-priest died; and after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return to the land of his possession.

Some sentencing guidelines followed:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Numbers 35:29-32 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:29-32 (NET) Numbers 35:29-32 (NETS) Numbers 35:29-32 (English Elpenor)
And these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. So these things must be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live. And these things shall be for you a requirement of judgment for your generations in all your settlements. And these things shall be to you for an ordinance of judgment throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses, but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. Every one, when he strikes a soul, through witnesses you shall kill the murderer, and one witness shall not bear witness against a soul that he should die. Whoever kills a man, thou shalt slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die.
Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death. And you shall not receive ransom for a soul from the one that committed murder, liable to be killed, for he shall be put to death by death. And ye shall not accept ransoms for life from a murderer who is worthy of death, for he shall be surely put to death.
And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. And you shall not receive ransom to flee to a city of places of refuge to live again on the land until the great priest dies. Ye shall not accept a ransom [to excuse] his fleeing to the city of refuge, so that he should again dwell in the land, until the death of the high-priest.

The rationale for all of this legislation followed:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Numbers 35:33, 34 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:33, 34 (NET) Numbers 35:33, 34 (NETS) Numbers 35:33, 34 (English Elpenor)
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. “‘You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it. And you shall not kill by murder the land on which you live.  For this blood kills the land by murder, and the land shall not be atoned for from the blood that was shed upon it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. So shall ye not pollute with murder the land in which ye dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land shall not be purged from the blood shed upon it, but by the blood of him that shed it.
And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I HaShem dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.’ Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the Israelites.’” And you shall not defile the land that you live upon, on which I will encamp among you, for I am the Lord, encamping in the midst of the sons of Israel. And ye shall not defile the land whereon ye dwell, on which I dwell in the midst of you; for I am the Lord dwelling in the midst of the children of Israel.

This rationale is very consistent with the Lord’s word to Cain after he had murdered Abel:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Genesis 4:10b-12a (Tanakh) Genesis 4:10b-12a (NET) Genesis 4:10b-12a (NETS) Genesis 4:10b-12a (English Elpenor)
the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground [Table]. The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the earth! the voice of thy brother’s blood cries to me out of the ground.
And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand [Table]. So now you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened wide its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. And now thou [art] cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; [Table] When you try to cultivate the ground it will no longer yield its best for you. For you will till the earth, and it will not continue to yield its strength to you; When thou tillest the earth, then it shall not continue to give its strength to thee:

What is not consistent is the killing spree God inaugurated in Genesis 9:6 in the Masoretic text only.  It is so inconsistent it can serve as evidence that the phrase by man (בָּֽאָדָ֖ם), or by other humans (NET), was added erroneously to the original text.  I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Genesis 9:5; 9:6; Numbers 35:9; 35:10; 35:11; 35:16; 35:17; 35:18; 35:19; 35:12; 35:13; 35:14; 35:15; 35:26; 35:27; 35:28; 35:29; 35:30; 35:31; 35:32; 35:33 and 35:34 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 9:5; 9:6; Numbers 35:9; 35:10; 35:11; 35:16; 35:17; 35:18; 35:19; 35:12; 35:13; 35:14; 35:15; 35:26; 35:27; 35:28; 35:29; 35:30; 35:31; 35:32; 35:33 and 35:34 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 9:5 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:5 (KJV) Genesis 9:5 (NET)
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment.  From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative.
Genesis 9:5 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 9:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ γὰρ τὸ ὑμέτερον αἷμα τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἐκζητήσω ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θηρίων ἐκζητήσω αὐτὸ καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδελφοῦ ἐκζητήσω τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ γὰρ τὸ ὑμέτερον αἷμα τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θηρίων ἐκζητήσω αὐτὸ καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδελφοῦ ἐκζητήσω τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
Genesis 9:5 (NETS) Genesis 9:5 (English Elpenor)
For truly, your blood of your lives I will seek out: from the hand of all the animals I will seek it out, and from the hand of a fellow human I will seek out the life of the human. For your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of [his] brother man.
Genesis 9:6 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:6 (KJV) Genesis 9:6 (NET)
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of G-d made He man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind.
Genesis 9:6 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 9:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ἐκχέων αἷμα ἀνθρώπου ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ἐκχυθήσεται ὅτι ἐν εἰκόνι θεοῦ ἐποίησα τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὁ ἐκχέων αἷμα ἀνθρώπου, ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ἐκχυθήσεται, ὅτι ἐν εἰκόνι Θεοῦ ἐποίησα τὸν ἄνθρωπον
Genesis 9:6 (NETS) Genesis 9:6 (English Elpenor)
As for the one who sheds a human’s blood, in return for this blood shall it be shed.  For by divine image I made humankind. He that sheds man’s blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man.
Numbers 35:9 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:9 (KJV) Numbers 35:9 (NET)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
Numbers 35:9 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων Καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
Numbers 35:9 (NETS) Numbers 35:9 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Numbers 35:10 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:10 (KJV) Numbers 35:10 (NET)
‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan,
Numbers 35:10 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
λάλησον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῗς πρὸς αὐτούς ὑμεῗς διαβαίνετε τὸν Ιορδάνην εἰς γῆν Χανααν λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς· ὑμεῖς διαβαίνετε τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην εἰς γῆν Χαναὰν
Numbers 35:10 (NETS) Numbers 35:10 (English Elpenor)
Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: As for you, you are crossing the Jordan into the land of Chanaan, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Ye are to cross over Jordan into the land of Chanaan.
Numbers 35:11 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:11 (KJV) Numbers 35:11 (NET)
then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person through error may flee thither. Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee.
Numbers 35:11 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ διαστελεῗτε ὑμῗν αὐτοῗς πόλεις φυγαδευτήρια ἔσται ὑμῗν φυγεῗν ἐκεῗ τὸν φονευτήν πᾶς ὁ πατάξας ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως καὶ διαστελεῖτε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς πόλεις· φυγαδευτήρια ἔσται ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ τὸν φονευτήν, πᾶς ὁ πατάξας ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως
Numbers 35:11 (NETS) Numbers 35:11 (English Elpenor)
and you shall set aside for yourselves cities; they shall be places of refuge for you for the murderer to flee there, everyone who strikes a soul unintentionally. And ye shall appoint to yourselves cities: they shall be to you cities of refuge for the slayer to flee to, every one who has killed another unintentionally.
Numbers 35:16 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:16 (KJV) Numbers 35:16 (NET)
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. “‘But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:16 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει σιδήρου πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ τελευτήσῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει σιδήρου πατάξῃ αὐτόν, καὶ τελευτήσῃ, φονευτής ἐστι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
Numbers 35:16 (NETS) Numbers 35:16 (English Elpenor)
But if he strikes him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with an iron instrument, and the man should die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
Numbers 35:17 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:17 (KJV) Numbers 35:17 (NET)
And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. If he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:17 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν λίθῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής ἐὰν δὲ ἐν λίθῳ ἐκ χειρός, ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ, πατάξῃ αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, φονευτής ἐστι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
Numbers 35:17 (NETS) Numbers 35:17 (English Elpenor)
Now if he strikes him with a stone out of hand—by which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with a stone [thrown] from his hand, whereby a man may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
Numbers 35:18 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:18 (KJV) Numbers 35:18 (NET)
Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer.  The murderer must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:18 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει ξυλίνῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐξ οὗ ἀποθανεῗται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει ξυλίνῳ ἐκ χειρός, ἐξ οὗ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ, πατάξῃ αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, φονευτής ἐστι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
Numbers 35:18 (NETS) Numbers 35:18 (English Elpenor)
Now if he strikes him with a wooden instrument out of hand—from which he may die—and he dies, he is a murderer; let the murderer be put to death by death. And if he should smite him with an instrument of wood from his hand, whereby he may die, and he [thus] die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
Numbers 35:19 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:19 (KJV) Numbers 35:19 (NET)
The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. The avenger of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him.
Numbers 35:19 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα οὗτος ἀποκτενεῗ τὸν φονεύσαντα ὅταν συναντήσῃ αὐτῷ οὗτος ἀποκτενεῗ αὐτόν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα, οὗτος ἀποκτενεῖ τὸν φονεύσαντα· ὅταν συναντήσῃ αὐτῷ, οὗτος ἀποκτενεῖ αὐτόν
Numbers 35:19 (NETS) Numbers 35:19 (English Elpenor)
As for the one doing the relative’s blood duty, he shall kill the one that committed murder; when he meets up with him, he shall kill him. The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: whensoever he shall meet him he shall slay him.
Numbers 35:12 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:12 (KJV) Numbers 35:12 (NET)
And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community.
Numbers 35:12 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις ὑμῗν φυγαδευτήρια ἀπὸ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ φονεύων ἕως ἂν στῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν καὶ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις ὑμῖν φυγαδευτήρια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ φονεύων ἕως ἂν στῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν
Numbers 35:12 (NETS) Numbers 35:12 (English Elpenor)
And the cities shall be for you places of refuge from one doing the relative’s blood duty, and the one that commits murder will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. And the cities shall be to you places of refuge from the avenger of blood, and the slayer shall not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Numbers 35:13 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:13 (KJV) Numbers 35:13 (NET)
And as to the cities which ye shall give, there shall be for you six cities of refuge. And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge. These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge.
Numbers 35:13 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αἱ πόλεις ἃς δώσετε τὰς ἓξ πόλεις φυγαδευτήρια ἔσονται ὑμῗν καὶ αἱ πόλεις ἃς δώσετε, τὰς ἓξ πόλεις, φυγαδευτήρια ἔσονται ὑμῖν
Numbers 35:13 (NETS) Numbers 35:13 (English Elpenor)
And the cities that you give as the six cities shall be places of refuge for you. And the cities which ye shall assign, [even] the six cities, shall be places of refuge for you.
Numbers 35:14 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:14 (KJV) Numbers 35:14 (NET)
Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. “‘You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge.
Numbers 35:14 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὰς τρεῗς πόλεις δώσετε ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ τὰς τρεῗς πόλεις δώσετε ἐν γῇ Χανααν τὰς τρεῖς πόλεις δώσετε πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου καὶ τὰς τρεῖς πόλεις δώσετε ἐν γῇ Χαναάν
Numbers 35:14 (NETS) Numbers 35:14 (English Elpenor)
Three cities you shall give beyond the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Chanaan. Ye shall assign three cities on the other side of Jordan, and ye shall assign three cities in the land of Chanaan.
Numbers 35:15 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:15 (KJV) Numbers 35:15 (NET)
For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the settler among them, shall these six cities be for refuge, that every one that killeth any person through error may flee thither. These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the resident foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there.
Numbers 35:15 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
φυγάδιον ἔσται τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ὑμῗν ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις αὗται εἰς φυγαδευτήριον φυγεῗν ἐκεῗ παντὶ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως φυγαδεῖον ἔσται τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις αὗται εἰς φυγαδευτήριον, φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ παντὶ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως
Numbers 35:15 (NETS) Numbers 35:15 (English Elpenor)
They shall be an asylum for the sons of Israel and for the guest and for the resident alien among you.  These cities shall be a place of refuge for everyone to flee there when he strikes a soul unintentionally. It shall be a place of refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for him that sojourns among you; these cities shall be for a place of refuge, for every one to flee thither who has killed a man unintentionally.
Numbers 35:26 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:26 (KJV) Numbers 35:26 (NET)
But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth; But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled,
Numbers 35:26 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐξόδῳ ἐξέλθῃ ὁ φονεύσας τὰ ὅρια τῆς πόλεως εἰς ἣν κατέφυγεν ἐκεῗ ἐὰν δὲ ἐξόδῳ ἐξέλθῃ ὁ φονεύσας τὰ ὅρια τῆς πόλεως εἰς ἣν κατέφυγεν ἐκεῖ
Numbers 35:26 (NETS) Numbers 35:26 (English Elpenor)
But if he that commits murder by an exit leaves the bounds of the city, there where he fled for refuge, But if the slayer should in any wise go out beyond the bounds of the city whither he fled for refuge,
Numbers 35:27 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:27 (KJV) Numbers 35:27 (NET)
and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood,
Numbers 35:27 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εὕρῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἔξω τῶν ὁρίων τῆς πόλεως καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φονεύσῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα τὸν φονεύσαντα οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν καὶ εὕρῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἔξω τῶν ὁρίων τῆς πόλεως καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φονεύσῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα τὸν φονεύσαντα, οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν
Numbers 35:27 (NETS) Numbers 35:27 (English Elpenor)
and the one doing the relative’s blood duty finds him outside the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the one doing the relative’s blood duty kills the one that committed murder, he is not liable. and the avenger of blood should find him without the bounds of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood should kill the slayer, he is not guilty.
Numbers 35:28 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:28 (KJV) Numbers 35:28 (NET)
because he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return into the land of his possession. Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest.  But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions.
Numbers 35:28 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν γὰρ τῇ πόλει τῆς καταφυγῆς κατοικείτω ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῗν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ἐπαναστραφήσεται ὁ φονεύσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν γὰρ τῇ πόλει τῆς καταφυγῆς κατοικείτω, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ἐπαναστραφήσεται ὁ φονεύσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ
Numbers 35:28 (NETS) Numbers 35:28 (English Elpenor)
For let him live in the city of refuge until the great priest dies, and after the great priest dies, he that committed murder shall return to the land of his possession. For he ought to have remained in the city of refuge till the high-priest died; and after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return to the land of his possession.
Numbers 35:29 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:29 (KJV) Numbers 35:29 (NET)
And these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. So these things must be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live.
Numbers 35:29 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ταῦτα ὑμῗν εἰς δικαίωμα κρίματος εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἐν πάσαις ταῗς κατοικίαις ὑμῶν καὶ ἔσται ταῦτα ὑμῖν εἰς δικαίωμα κρίματος εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἐν πάσαις ταῖς κατοικίαις ὑμῶν
Numbers 35:29 (NETS) Numbers 35:29 (English Elpenor)
And these things shall be for you a requirement of judgment for your generations in all your settlements. And these things shall be to you for an ordinance of judgment throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Numbers 35:30 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:30 (KJV) Numbers 35:30 (NET)
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses, but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death.
Numbers 35:30 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν διὰ μαρτύρων φονεύσεις τὸν φονεύσαντα καὶ μάρτυς εἷς οὐ μαρτυρήσει ἐπὶ ψυχὴν ἀποθανεῗν πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν, διὰ μαρτύρων φονεύσεις τὸν φονεύσαντα, καὶ μάρτυς εἷς οὐ μαρτυρήσει ἐπὶ ψυχὴν ἀποθανεῖν
Numbers 35:30 (NETS) Numbers 35:30 (English Elpenor)
Every one, when he strikes a soul, through witnesses you shall kill the murderer, and one witness shall not bear witness against a soul that he should die. Whoever kills a man, thou shalt slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die.
Numbers 35:31 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:31 (KJV) Numbers 35:31 (NET)
Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:31 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ λήμψεσθε λύτρα περὶ ψυχῆς παρὰ τοῦ φονεύσαντος τοῦ ἐνόχου ὄντος ἀναιρεθῆναι θανάτῳ γὰρ θανατωθήσεται καὶ οὐ λήψεσθε λύτρα περὶ ψυχῆς παρὰ τοῦ φονεύσαντος τοῦ ἐνόχου ὄντος ἀναιρεθῆναι· θανάτῳ γὰρ θανατωθήσεται
Numbers 35:31 (NETS) Numbers 35:31 (English Elpenor)
And you shall not receive ransom for a soul from the one that committed murder, liable to be killed, for he shall be put to death by death. And ye shall not accept ransoms for life from a murderer who is worthy of death, for he shall be surely put to death.
Numbers 35:32 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:32 (KJV) Numbers 35:32 (NET)
And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.
Numbers 35:32 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ λήμψεσθε λύτρα τοῦ φυγεῗν εἰς πόλιν τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων τοῦ πάλιν κατοικεῗν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας οὐ λήψεσθε λύτρα τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς πόλιν τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων, τοῦ πάλιν κατοικεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας
Numbers 35:32 (NETS) Numbers 35:32 (English Elpenor)
And you shall not receive ransom to flee to a city of places of refuge to live again on the land until the great priest dies. Ye shall not accept a ransom [to excuse] his fleeing to the city of refuge, so that he should again dwell in the land, until the death of the high-priest.
Numbers 35:33 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:33 (KJV) Numbers 35:33 (NET)
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. “‘You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it.
Numbers 35:33 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε τὴν γῆν εἰς ἣν ὑμεῗς κατοικεῗτε τὸ γὰρ αἷμα τοῦτο φονοκτονεῗ τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος καὶ οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε τὴν γῆν, εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς κατοικεῖτε· τὸ γὰρ αἷμα τοῦτο φονοκτονεῖ τὴν γῆν, καὶ οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος
Numbers 35:33 (NETS) Numbers 35:33 (English Elpenor)
And you shall not kill by murder the land on which you live.  For this blood kills the land by murder, and the land shall not be atoned for from the blood that was shed upon it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. So shall ye not pollute with murder the land in which ye dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land shall not be purged from the blood shed upon it, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Numbers 35:34 (Tanakh) Numbers 35:34 (KJV) Numbers 35:34 (NET)
And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I HaShem dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.’ Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the Israelites.’”
Numbers 35:34 (Septuagint BLB) Numbers 35:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ μιανεῗτε τὴν γῆν ἐφ᾽ ἧς κατοικεῗτε ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἐφ᾽ ἧς ἐγὼ κατασκηνώσω ἐν ὑμῗν ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι κύριος κατασκηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν, ἐφ’ ἧς κατοικεῖτε ἐπ’ αὐτῆς, ἐφ’ ἧς ἐγὼ κατασκηνῶ ἐν ὑμῖν· ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι Κύριος κατασκηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ
Numbers 35:34 (NETS) Numbers 35:34 (English Elpenor)
And you shall not defile the land that you live upon, on which I will encamp among you, for I am the Lord, encamping in the midst of the sons of Israel. And ye shall not defile the land whereon ye dwell, on which I dwell in the midst of you; for I am the Lord dwelling in the midst of the children of Israel.

[1] Genesis 9:1

[2] NET note 11: The word “punishment” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification. The verb דָּרָשׁ (darash) means “to require, to seek, to ask for, to exact.” Here it means that God will exact punishment for the taking of a life. See R. Mawdsley, “Capital Punishment in Gen. 9:6,” CentBib 18 (1975): 20-25.