Now Moses returns to the subject of cities of refuge in Canaan to receive accidental murderers or those guilty of manslaughter. It is strange how much text is dedicated to this subject in the Pentateuch and it would seem to have been a major problem. There were to be initially 3 cities of refuge with roads built to give good access to them, and there was a possibility of a further 3 such cities being established later. The moving of land markers was also prohibited.
Moses then goes on to the subject of witnesses which must be at least 2 for any crime. If a witness proves to be a liar then he must be punished with exactly what he was advocating for the accused. Moses stipulates that the judges and priests must show no pity in such cases and retribution must be "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand and foot for foot"!
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