These were the towns marked out for all the children of Israel and for the man from a strange country living among them, so that anyone causing the death of another in error, might go in flight there, and not be put to death by him who has the right of punishment for blood till he had come before the meeting of the people.

when ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: and have gone and served strange gods, and bowed yourselves to them. Then shall the wrath of the LORD wax hot upon you, and ye shall perish quickly, from off the good land which he hath given you."

And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the water in old time even Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and served strange gods.

And the people answered and said, "God forbid that we should forsake the LORD and serve strange gods.

If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Then said Yahweh unto Joshua - Do not fear because of them, for, to-morrow, about this time, am I going to deliver up all of them, slain, before Israel, - their horses, shalt thou ham-string, and, their chariots, shalt thou burn up with fire.

And Joshua did unto them, as Yahweh had said unto him, - their horses, he ham-strung, and, their chariots, burned he up with fire.