⁴² to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally^(A) killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life.

³ Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

⁴ This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety—anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought.

⁶ Otherwise, the avenger of blood^(A) might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought.

³ so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally^(A) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.^{(B) 4} When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate^(C) and state their case before the elders^(D) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. ⁵ If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. ⁶ They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly^(E) and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”