In the days before an established judicial system, a man who accidentally killed another had only one choice to live: to flee to the nearest city of refuge. There, he would submit evidence to the authorities to prove the killing was not premeditated. If his account were believed, he could live in that city without fear of retribution until the death of the current high priest in Jerusalem, after which he would be free to return home unmolested. However, if he left the city before that time, the blood avenger was within his rights to find and kill him. Imagine the grief, horror, and guilt after taking a life, followed by the sudden realization of incurring the death penalty. The only hope is to reach the closest city of refuge, not knowing its exact location. Beyond that, there is the hope of eventual freedom and forgiveness of sin through the death of the high priest, whose passing clears the wrongdoing and stays the hand of the blood avenger.