They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community.

If the killer shoved his victim out of hatred, or hurled something at him while waiting in ambush so that he died,

or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he died, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him."

then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances.

The community is to release the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil.

But if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled

The inadvertent killer is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance.

You are to receive no ransom for the life of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die.