Joshua 20:5

Jos 20:5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

Ver. 5. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him.] Sanguinem pro interfecto posuit, saith Vatablus. If he in the heat of revenge, without taking leisure to consider the fault as well as the fact, and the degree of it, &c., for all faults are not equal, as the Stoics hold, neither are they to be alike punished. If the guilt of an evil conscience pursue after us, as it will, let us run to Christ our rock of refuge, our sanctuary of safety, and none shall be able to take us out of his hands: he and the Father are one. {Joh 10:30}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, the nearest kinsman of him that is slain.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

5. And if the avenger of blood pursue] “And when the blood wreker him pursue,” Wyclif. The steps are now prescribed which were to be taken, in the event of the Avenger of Blood pursuing the homicide. He was not to be delivered up into his hands, but kept securely.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him,.... To the city of refuge, whither he is fled, and demand him:

then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hands; to be slain by him, but shall protect him:

because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime; See Gill on Num 35:22; see Gill on Num 35:23, and See Gill on Deu 19:6.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Before. This is generally taken literally. But if sufficient proof could be brought that the contending parties were at variance, or reconciled some time before the accident happened, the person who had taken refuge, would be judged accordingly. It might lawfully be presumed that they were enemies, if, after being at variance, they had given no signs of reconciliation. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

And if. Or, "and when. Deliver. Literally, cause to shut up (sugkleisousi , LXX), implying the completeness of the deliverance, from which no escape was possible. And hated him not before time. Daun, cited in Keil"s Commentary here, remarks on the difference between the Jewish law of sanctuary and that of the Greeks and Romans. The former was not designed to save the criminal from the penalty he had deserved, but only the victim of an accident from consequences far exceeding the offence. The Greeks and Romans, on the contrary, provided the real criminal with a mode of escape from a punishment which he had justly merited.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

avenge the blood of the person who was killed

Here the shed blood of a person represents their death. This can be stated in active form. See how you translated this in Joshua 20:3. AT: "avenge a person's death" (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

killed his neighbor unintentionally ... accidentally killed the person

These phrases mean the same thing.

stood before the assembly

This is a phrase that describes standing to seek justice from a court of the assembly of his fellow citizens.

translationWords

avenge

blood

authority

judge

die

high priest

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.