8. Since the towns for the Levites must come from Israel's own tribal lands, the larger tribes will give more towns than the smaller ones.
9. The Lord then told Moses
10. to tell the people of Israel:After you have crossed the River Jordan and are settled in Canaan,
11. choose Safe Towns, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can run for protection.
12. If the victim's relatives think it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of these Safe Towns for protection and not be killed before a trial is held.
13. There are to be six of these Safe Towns,
14. three on each side of the River Jordan.
15. They will be places of protection for anyone who lives in Israel and accidentally kills someone.
19. by one of the victim's relatives. He will take revenge for his relative's death as soon as he finds you.
25. If they decide that you are innocent, you will be protected from the victim's relative and sent to stay in one of the Safe Towns until the high priest dies.
26. But if you ever leave the Safe Town
27. and are killed by the victim's relative, he cannot be punished for killing you.
28. You must stay inside the town until the high priest dies; only then can you go back home.