² then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

² “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, ³ so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally^(A) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.^{(B) 4} When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate^(C) and state their case before the elders^(D) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. ⁵ If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. ⁶ They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly^(E) and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”