¹² The cities will be for you a place of refuge from the close relative of the dead. The person who killed someone may not be put to death until he stands before the community for judgment.

²⁴ then the community must come to a verdict between the killer and the close relative in accordance with these case laws.

²⁵ The community will protect the killer from the hand of the close relative and return him to the refuge city where he fled. He will live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with holy oil.