⁶ lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past.

⁶ "If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died.

⁶ otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in the heat of his anger , and overtake him, because the way is long , and take his life , though he was not deserving of death , since he had not hated him previously .