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.

¹⁵ These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.

¹⁶ “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.^{(A) 17} Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. ¹⁸ Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. ¹⁹ The avenger of blood^(B) shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.^{(C) 20} If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally^(D) so that they die ²¹ or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death;^(E) that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood^(F) shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

²² “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally^{(G) 23} or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, ²⁴ the assembly^(H) must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.

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.

² In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.^(A) And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd^(B) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.^(C)’”

⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits^[a](A) between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

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.

² And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.^(A)