Numbers 35:31-33

Living Bible

³¹ Whenever anyone is judged guilty of murder, he must die—no ransom may be accepted for him. ³² Nor may a payment be accepted from a refugee in a City of Refuge, permitting him to return to his home before the death of the High Priest. ³³ In this way the land will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for murder except by the execution of the murderer.