Definition: That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Deuteronomy. It's a really important verse about how God wants to protect His people. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God wants to keep his people safe and avoid conflict with others. He’s setting up a system where the Israelites (and those who follow them) need to be careful about killing people – especially neighbors – but also, he wants to be tolerant of them even if they’re not friendly. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “That the slayer might flee thither…” This means that if a person kills someone, they should run away in a specific direction. It’s like a warning – don’t do this! “…which should kill his neighbour unawares…” This is the key part. God wants to make sure that the killer doesn't accidentally harm someone who is not their neighbor. They need to be cautious and avoid causing harm unintentionally. “and hated him not in times past;” This means that before this happened, there wasn’t a big problem or disagreement between the people involved. They weren’t constantly fighting or having bad feelings towards each other. It suggests a peaceful relationship in the beginning. “and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live.” This is where it gets interesting. God wants to give them a safe place – a city – where they can continue to live and prosper, if they choose to flee. What does this all mean practically? It’s essentially about: Protecting the Israelites: God wants to protect his people from harm. Avoiding Conflict: He wants to prevent disputes and violence with others. Building a Relationship: It shows that God values peace and wants to foster a relationship with those he has chosen. In essence, it’s a promise of safety and guidance for the Israelites, emphasizing their responsibility to be careful and avoid causing harm to others. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Give you a historical context (like why this passage was important in ancient times)? Relate it to a specific story or event from the Bible?