Deuteronomy 19:10

WEB

that innocent blood not be shed in the midst of your land, which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, and so blood be on you.

KJV

That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

Commentary

That innocent blood be not shed,.... As it would be if such a slayer as before described was killed by the avenger of blood, before he could get to one o f these cities of refuge, or supposing that they had not bean appointed, or a sufficient number of them: which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance; to be enjoyed by them and their children after them, provided they did not defile it by their sins, but observed the commands of the Lord to obey them and so blood be upon thee; the guilt of innocent blood crying for vengeance, as would be the case if such a man's blood was shed as before described; it seems as if the guilt would rather affect the whole land, for not having a proper provision of "asylums" for such persons, than the avenger of blood.