Deuteronomy 19:4-7 ▼

4 “Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: when he strikes down his friend without premeditation, not hating him previously—

5 as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live;

6 lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer when his heart is angry, and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike down his life, though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated him previously.

7 Therefore, I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall set apart three cities for yourself.’