"This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past--

The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net.

God

And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;

I will appoint

then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there.

Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan,

"When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses,

"Say to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

General references

"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait

"'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'