11. designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally.
12. These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.
13. Designate six cities of refuge for yourselves,
14. three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan.
15. These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety.
16. “But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.
17. Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.
18. Or if someone strikes and kills another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.
19. The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer to death.
20. So if someone hates another person and waits in ambush, then pushes him or throws something at him and he dies, it is murder.
21. Or if someone hates another person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.
22. “But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person,