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.

¹² the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.

³ so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally^(A) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.^(B)

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.