¹⁰ Do this so that innocent blood^(A) will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.^(B)

¹¹ But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor,^(C) and then flees to one of these cities, ¹² the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die. ¹³ Show no pity.^(D) You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood,^(E) so that it may go well with you.

³² “Why^(A) should he be put to death? What^(B) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father.