Accidentally translates two synonymous expressions in Hebrew: Revised Standard Version “Without intent or unwittingly”; New American Bible “accidental and unintended homicide.” This would include a case of pure accident or of killing someone in a fight, where there had been no intent to kill. Some languages such as Hebrew may prefer to retain two synonymous expressions, but many languages will choose to use only one of the forms.

The man who is looking for revenge refers to the relative of the dead man whose duty it was to kill the killer, and it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example, “The relative of the dead man who wants to kill him in revenge.”

For a proposed restructuring of this verse, see comments on verses 1-2.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .