20:9a
These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed can also be translated “designated” or “agreed upon.” It may be clearer to add the implicit information “towns of refuge.”
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
These towns ⌊of refuge⌋ were appointed for all the people of Israel.
-or-
These were the safe towns that were selected for all the Israel people.
20:9b
and foreigners among them: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foreigners among them is more literally “the sojourner who sojourns among them.” This refers to foreigners who were living among the people of Israel.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
a foreigner who lived among them
-or-
anyone who lived among them
20:9c
so that: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that indicates purpose. It can also be translated as “that.”
anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there: This clause is like the clause in verse 20:3a.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
so that anyone who killed a person accidentally could run there
-or-
anybody who killed a person by mistake could escape there
20:9d
and not die: The phrase and not die indicates the purpose of running away to the town of safety. The person who had killed by accident could escape to a safe town and be safe from the person who wanted to kill him.
by the hand of the avenger of blood: The phrase by the hand of the avenger of blood indicates how the one who had killed might die. The avenger of blood would find him and kill him. You should translate the term avenger of blood the same way as you did in verse 20:3b.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
Then the relative of the person who died would not kill him
-or-
so that he will be safe from the relative who wanted to kill him
20:9e
prior to standing trial before the assembly: This part of the verse is like verse 20:6a. It may be clearer to include here the information “for judgment” which is found in that verse in Hebrew.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse.
until he comes before the assembly ⌊and they judge him⌋
-or-
until the congregation ⌊has judged his case⌋
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