Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt; let Sihon’s city be restored.

“Fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon’s heights.

A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

“‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled

and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder.

The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

“‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.