| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the purpose infinitive lanus {לָנ֥וּס | lānûs} followed by the deictic adverb shammah {שָׁ֙מָּה֙ | šāmmāh} to state the intended function of the designated location: “to flee there.” Two substantival participles, rotseach {רוֹצֵ֔חַ | rōṣēaḥ} and makkeh-nefesh {מַכֵּה־נֶ֥פֶשׁ | makkēh-nép̄eš}, identify the offender in legal terms as the one who caused a death, while the prepositional qualifiers bishgagah {בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה | bišgāgâ} ‘in error’ and bivli-daat {בִּבְלִי־דָ֑עַת | bivlî-daʿat} ‘without knowledge’ restrict the case to non-premeditated killing. The clause introduced by vehayu {וְהָי֤וּ | wəhāyû} shifts from eligibility to outcome, presenting the cities as an ongoing protective provision: “and they shall be for you for refuge.” The double lamed phrases lachem {לָכֶם֙ | lāḵem} ‘for you’ and lemiklat {לְמִקְלָ֔ט | ləmiqlāṭ} ‘for refuge’ emphasize beneficiary and function. The final prepositional phrase miggoel haddam {מִגֹּאֵ֖ל הַדָּֽם | miggōʾēl haddām} frames the protection in judicial-social terms: refuge is specifically “from” the blood-avenger, the authorized claimant in kin justice. |