⁴ “This is the provision for ^(A)the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past—

¹⁵ These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and ^(A)for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.

^16 (B)“But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. ¹⁷ And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. ¹⁸ Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. ^19 (C)The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. ²⁰ And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, ^(D)lying in wait, so that he died, ²¹ or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. ^(E)The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

²² “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him ^(F)without lying in wait ²³ or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm, ²⁴ then ^(G)the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and ^(H)the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.

⁴² that ^(A)the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life:

³³ For ^(A)a burning place^[a] has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, ^(B)its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; ^(C)the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

² In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ^(A)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”

^4 (A)Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits^[a] in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

⁶ lest ^(A)the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past.

² And Jacob saw ^(A)that Laban did not regard him with favor as before.