Where were the cities set up?\u00a0 They were chosen for geographical reasons.\u00a0 There are certain criteria for the cities that they not be too small, too large, they have a water supply, a shuk, etc. to allow for proper\u00a0protection and so that one does not need to leave the city for anything – even one’s rabbi needs to go to the city with him.\u00a0 Weapons can’t be sold there and other implements that could be used to kill the killer.\u00a0 The gemara digresses to discussing the importance of learning Torah and learning as part of a community.\u00a0 Reish\u00a0Lakish explains a verse in the Torah that God orchestrates things from above that one who kills accidentally and no one knows,\u00a0and one who kills on purpose without witnesses,\u00a0will both end up in the same place and the murderer will get killed accidentally by the one who killed accidentally before and each will then get their punishment they are deserving of.\u00a0 If the relative kills the killer on the way to the city of refuge, does he receive a death penalty?<\/p>\n