Numbers 35:10–28

^10*to say to the people of Israel: “When you cross the River Jordan and enter the land of Canaan, ^11*you are to choose cities of refuge to which a man can escape if he kills someone accidentally. ^12*There he will be safe from the dead person’s relative who seeks revenge. No one accused of manslaughter is to be put to death without a public trial. ^13*Choose six cities, ^14*three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. ^15*These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.

^16–18*“If, however, anyone uses a weapon of iron or stone or wood to kill someone, he is guilty of murder and is to be put to death. ^19*The dead person’s nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds him, he is to kill him.

^20*“If anyone hates someone and kills him by pushing him down or by throwing something at him ^21*or by striking him with his fist, he is guilty of murder and is to be put to death. The dead man’s nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds him, he is to kill him.

^22*“But suppose anyone accidentally kills someone he does not hate, whether by pushing him down or by throwing something at him. ^23*Or suppose that, without looking, anyone throws a stone that kills someone whom he did not intend to hurt and who was not his enemy. ^24*In such cases the community shall judge in favour of the one who caused the death and not in favour of the dead person’s relative who is seeking revenge. ^25*The community is to rescue the one guilty of manslaughter from the dead person’s relative, and they are to return him to the city of refuge to which he had escaped. He must live there until the death of the man who is then High Priest. ^26*If the one guilty of manslaughter leaves the city of refuge to which he has escaped ^27*and if the dead person’s relative finds him and kills him, this act of revenge is not murder. ^28*The person guilty of manslaughter must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest, but after that he may return home.