8. Since the towns for the Levites must come from Israel's own tribal lands, the larger tribes will give more towns than the smaller ones.
9. The Lord then told Moses
10. to tell the people of Israel:After you have crossed the River Jordan and are settled in Canaan,
11. choose Safe Towns, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can run for protection.
12. If the victim's relatives think it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of these Safe Towns for protection and not be killed before a trial is held.
13. There are to be six of these Safe Towns,
14. three on each side of the River Jordan.
15. They will be places of protection for anyone who lives in Israel and accidentally kills someone.
16-18. Suppose you hit someone with a piece of iron or a large stone or a dangerous wooden tool. If that person dies, then you are a murderer and must be put to death
19. by one of the victim's relatives. He will take revenge for his relative's death as soon as he finds you.
20-21. Or suppose you get angry and kill someone by pushing or hitting or by throwing something. You are a murderer and must be put to death by one of the victim's relatives.
22-24. But if you are not angry and accidentally kill someone in any of these ways, the townspeople must hold a trial and decide if you are guilty.
25. If they decide that you are innocent, you will be protected from the victim's relative and sent to stay in one of the Safe Towns until the high priest dies.
26. But if you ever leave the Safe Town
27. and are killed by the victim's relative, he cannot be punished for killing you.