¹⁰ This is so that innocent people will not be killed in your land. The Lord your God is giving it to you to own. By doing this you will not be guilty of murder.

¹¹ But a person might hate his neighbor. And he might hide and wait for him. He might attack and kill him and then run to one of these cities for safety. ¹² The elders of his own city should send for him. They should bring him back from the city of safety. And they should hand him over to the relative who has the duty of punishing the murderer.