Josoa 20
1 Ary Jehovah niteny tamin’ i Josoa ka nanao hoe:
Then the Lord told Joshua,
2 Lazao amin’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely hoe: Fidio ny tanàna fandosirana izay nasaiko nolazain’ i Mosesy taminareo,
“Tell the Israelites, ‘Assign sanctuary towns, as I instructed you through Moses.
3 handosiran’ izay nahafaty olona tsy nahy; dia ho fandosirana ho anareo izany mba tsy ho azon’ ny mpamaly rà
Then any man who kills somebody by accident, unintentionally, can run there and they will be protected from those who wish to take revenge.
4 Ary raha misy mandositra ho ao amin’ ny anankiray amin’ ireo tanàna ireo ka mijanona eo anoloan’ ny vavahady ary mandahatra ny teniny eo anatrehan’ ny loholona amin’ izany tanàna izany, dia hampidiriny ho ao an-tanàna izy ka homeny toerana, mba hitoetra ao aminy.
When he gets to one of these towns, he shall state his case to the elders at the town gates. They must allow him to enter, and they will also arrange a place for him to stay.
5 Ary raha manenjika azy ny mpamaly rà, dia tsy hanolotra ilay nahafaty olona ho eo an-tànany izy, satria nahafaty tsy nahy ny namany, fa tsy dia nankahala azy teo aloha.
If the one seeking revenge comes looking for the man, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, because he killed someone unintentionally and without deliberate hatred.
6 Dia hitoetra ao amin’ izany tanàna izany izy mandra-pisehony eo anatrehan’ ny fiangonana hotsaraina, sy mandra-pahafatin’ izay mpisoronabe amin’ izany andro izany; dia hiverina ilay nahafaty olona ka hody any an-tanànany sy any an-tranony, dia any amin’ ny tanàna izay nialany fony izy nandositra.
He shall remain in that town until he has received a public trial and a verdict has been given, and until the death of the high priest of the time. Then he is free to return to his home, back to the town from where he ran away.’”
7 Dia nanokana an’ i Kadesy any Galilia any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Naftaly izy sy Sekema any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Efraima ary Kiriat-arba (Hebrona izany) any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Joda.
So they assigned the following sanctuary towns: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (or Hebron), in the hill country of Judah.
8 Ary dia nifidy an’ i Bezera any an-efitra amin’ ny tany lemaka izay an’ ny firenen’ i Robena izy, ary Ramota izay any Gileada, an’ ny firenen’ i Gada, ary Golana any Basana, izay an’ ny firenen’ i Manase, any an-dafy atsinanan’ i Jordana, tandrifin’ i Jeriko.
On the other side of the Jordan, east of Jericho, they assigned: Bezer, in the wilderness on the plateau, from the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
9 Ireo no tanàna voafidy ho an’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely rehetra sy ny vahiny eo aminy handosiran’ izay rehetra nahafaty olona tsy nahy, mba tsy ho fatin’ ny tanan’ ny mpamaly rà izy mandra-pisehony eo anatrehan’ ny fiangonana.
These were the assigned towns for all the Israelites, as well as for the foreigners living among them. Anyone who unintentionally killed someone could go there so they would not be killed by those who wished to take revenge before they had received a public trial and been given a guilty verdict.
