Deuteronomy 19:4

“And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live, etc.] It was not any slayer that might have protection in these cities, but such who were thus and thus circumstanced, or whose case was as follows: whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly; without intention, as the Targum of Jonathan, did not design it, but was done by him unawares: whom he hated not in time past; had never shown by words or deeds that he had any hatred of him or enmity to him three days ago; so that if there were no marks of hatred, or proofs of it three days before this happened, it was reckoned an accidental thing, and not done on purpose, as this phrase is usually interpreted; (see…”

“This and the next two chapters contain enactments designed to protect human life, and to impress its sanctity on Israel. In Deuteronomy 19:1-13 the directions respecting the preparation of the roads to the cities of refuge, the provision of additional cities in case of an extension of territory, and the intervention of the elders as representing the congregation, are unique to Deuteronomy and supplementary to the laws on the same subject given in the earlier books (compare the marginal reference). Deuteronomy 19:1, Deuteronomy 19:2 The three cities of refuge for the district east of Jordan had been already named. Moses now directs that when the territory on the west of Jordan had been…”

“19:4 A slayer who kills . . . unintentionally does not plan ahead of time to commit the act (see 17:8).”

“the slayer: Deu 4:42; Num 35:15-24 in time past: Heb. from yesterday the third day, Deu 19:6; Gen 31:2; Jos 3:4; Ch1 11:2; Isa 30:33 \*marg. Deuteronomy 19:5”