And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver

21:12-13, And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand He that smites a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.  One who killed a man "at unawares," that is, without intending to do it, the law appointed places of refuge (Num 35:6-34; Deut 4:41-43; 19:2-10; Josh 20:2-9; Barnes). That is, without malice aforethought, a man happened to kill someone, which is understood as God’s providence (Ellicott).  Namely, by an act of God: The theological assumption is that the death of the victim occurred by the intervention of Providence; thus, the man-slayer was the unwitting agent (WBC).Then, he must be dealt with according to the law of the refuge .  Hitherto, throughout the East, it had been regarded as the duty of the next of kin to avenge homicide of whatever kind, and blood had been exacted for blood. In ancient time, it was widespread phenomenon of the blood feud. In the absence of centralized authority, family and clan solidarity led people to administer private justice.  The “avenger of blood,” Hebrew goʾel ha-dam—generally the nearest relative of the victim of homicide—would be duty-bound to seek revenge.  But the Sinaitic legislation for the first time interposed the “city of refuge,” between the “avenger of blood” and his victim. Where the elders of his own town (Num 35:22-25) must consider his claim, and he was entitled to protection (Ellicott).  A willful murderer shall be taken and executed. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those who happens to kill without intent of hurt (Matthew Henry).