3so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.
The Law made provision for so many good things. We often tend to think about the Old Testament Law in such negative and restrictive ways. In this passage the Lord instructed Joshua to set aside six cities to help prevent impulsive revenge killings. If a person accidentally and without premeditation killed someone they would flee to one of these cities. They would tell their side of the story and be allowed into the city. Then there would be a trial under the protection of the city of refuge. If he was found innocent he would remain in that city until the death of the high priest who was serving at the time of the trial. Then he could return to his home town. So the innocent person still had some punishment for the accidental death. If he was guilty, punishment would be executed after the trial. Helping to prevent revenge killings is a wonderful thing. It provided for safety and justice. It slowed down the process enough to ensure a fair trial. There are positive things to all the Old Testament Laws. Sometimes we just miss them.
The Arnold Journey 