And when he that doth flee unto one of those
cities
Any one of them, that was nearest to him:
shall stand at the entering of the gate of the
city;
for he might not rush in without leave:
and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of
that city;
lay before them the whole matter, how that he had killed a person
unawares, by what means it came about, and that it was merely
through error, without any malicious design, and was a mere
accident:
they shall take him into the city unto them;
directly, lest the avenger of blood should come and seize on him,
and kill him; and they were to take him into the city, not only
to prevent that, but to examine him still more closely about the
matter, and get further satisfaction; and being satisfied, were
to continue him in it:
and give him a place, that he might dwell among
them;
until his death, or the death of the high priest, if that was
first. Kimchi observes from their Rabbins, the he was not to hire
a house all the time of his dwelling there, but was to have one
freely, because it is said, "and give him"