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for the People of Israel, for the foreigner, and for any occasional visitors or guests - six asylum-cities to run to for anyone who accidentally kills another.
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"But if the killer has used an iron object, that's just plain murder; he's obviously a murderer and must be put to death.
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"Or if he has a rock in his hand big enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death.
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"Or if he's carrying a wooden club heavy enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death.
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"In such cases the avenger has a right to kill the murderer when he meets him - he can kill him on the spot.
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"And if out of sheer hatred a man pushes another or from ambush throws something at him and he dies,
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or angrily hits him with his fist and kills him, that's murder - he must be put to death. The avenger has a right to kill him when he gets him.
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"If, however, he impulsively pushes someone and there is no history of hard feelings, or he impetuously picks up something and throws it,
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or he accidentally drops a stone tool - a maul or hammer, say - and it hits and kills someone he didn't even know was there, and there's no suspicion that there was bad blood between them,
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the community is to judge between the killer and the avenger following these guidelines.
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It's the task of the community to save the killer from the hand of the avenger - the community is to return him to his asylum-city to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the High Priest who was anointed with the holy oil.