Lest the executer
of blood follow after the slayer while his heart is hot and
overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him, and yet there
is no cause worthy of death in him, inasmuch as he hated not his
neighbour in time past. Wherefore I command thee saying: see that
thou appoint out three cities. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy
coasts as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the
land which he said he would give unto thy fathers (so that thou
keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this
day, that thou love the LORD thy God and walk in his ways ever)
then thou shalt add three cities more unto those three, that
innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God
giveth thee to inherit, and so blood come upon thee. But and if
there be any man that hateth his neighbour and layeth await for
him and riseth against him and smiteth him that he die, and fleeth
unto any of these cities. Then let the elders of his city send and
fetch him thence and deliver him into the hands of the justice of
blood, and he shall die. Let thine eye have no pity on him, and so
thou shalt put away innocent blood from Israel, and happy art
thou. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's mark which they of old
time have set in thine inheritance that thou inheritest in the
land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to enjoy it.
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