Deuteronomy 4:42

42 that he flee to those, that slayeth his neighbour not willfully, and was not (an) enemy (to him) before one and the tother day, and that he may flee to some of these cities; (so that anyone might flee to them, who did not willfully, or intentionally, kill his neighbour, and was not an enemy to him the day before, and so that he might escape to one of these cities, and live;)

Deuteronomy 4:42 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:42

That the slayer might flee thither
For refuge; the slayer of a man, but not any slayer, but

which should kill his neighbour unawares;
by accident to him, without any design and intention to kill him; ignorantly, as the Septuagint version; and so Onkelos:

and hated him not in times past;
it having never appeared that there had been a quarrel between them, and that the slayer had shown any enmity to the man slain any time before the fact, or bore a grudge against him, or spite unto him:

and that, fleeing unto one of these cities, he might live;
in peace and safety unto his own death, or unto the death of the high priest, when he was released from his confinement to the city of his refuge, and might return to his tribe, house, family, and possessions.

Deuteronomy 4:42 In-Context

40 Keep thou his behests, and his commandments, which I command to thee, that it be well to thee, and to thy sons after thee, and that thou dwell much time upon the land, which thy Lord God shall give to thee. (Obey thou his statutes, and his commandments, which I command to thee, that it be well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and so that thou live a long time on the land, which the Lord thy God shall give to thee.)

41 Then Moses separated three cities beyond (the) Jordan at the east coast, (Then Moses set apart three cities east of the Jordan River,)

42 that he flee to those, that slayeth his neighbour not willfully, and was not (an) enemy (to him) before one and the tother day, and that he may flee to some of these cities; (so that anyone might flee to them, who did not willfully, or intentionally, kill his neighbour, and was not an enemy to him the day before, and so that he might escape to one of these cities, and live;)

43 Bezer in the wilderness, which is set in the field land, of the lineage of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, which is in the lineage of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, which is in the lineage of Manasseh. (Bezer in the wilderness, which is set on the plains, for the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, for the tribe of Manasseh.)

44 This is the law which Moses setted forth before the sons of Israel,