And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
And if the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger kills the one who committed manslaughter, he will not be guilty of murder.
This verse explains that if someone who accidentally killed another person leaves their designated safe city, the victim's family member has the legal right to kill them without being charged with murder.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, God established cities of refuge as safe havens for individuals who had accidentally caused someone's death, protecting them from the avenger of blood, a family member seeking retribution on behalf of the victim. This system was part of the Mosaic law to ensure that justice was administered fairly rather than through uncontrolled vengeance, with the accused required to stay in the city until the death of the high priest. If they left prematurely, the avenger could kill them without facing legal consequences, emphasizing the seriousness of fleeing God's designated protection.
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