Numbers 35:12 References
12
'aThe cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.
a Deuteronomy 19:4-6, Joshua 20:2, Joshua 20:3
Deuteronomy 19
4
"aNow this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: when he kills his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously--
5
as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies--he may flee to one of these cities and live;
6
otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in the heat of his anger, and overtake him, because the way is long, and take his life, though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated him previously.
Joshua 20
2
"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate athe cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
Joshua 20
3
that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.