9. The Lord said to Moses,
10. “Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan,
11. select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them.
12. These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community.
13. There will be six cities you select as places of refuge,
14. three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan.
15. These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.
16. “But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
17. If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
18. Or if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
19. The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.
20. If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him,
21. or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.
22. “But suppose you accidentally kill someone who wasn’t your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but didn’t mean to kill him.
23. Or suppose you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you didn’t know the person was there, he wasn’t your enemy, and you weren’t trying to harm him.
24. Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you ⌊are innocent⌋ or if the dead person’s relative can avenge the death.
25. ⌊If you are innocent,⌋ the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26. “But don’t go outside the city of refuge you fled to.