I thought most of y'all were law keepers and now you want to show mercy and grace. The law states that if a man kill a man the law requires his life. Unless he flee to a city of refuge. Can you see the mercy in that. God even said I abhor your sacrifice and feast for I desire mercy.
The cities (there were to be three of them) of refuge were only available to those who had accidently killed someone...
Deu 19:1 When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
Deu 19:2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deu 19:3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
Deu 19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
Deu 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
Notice the circumstances, completely accidental.
Deu 19:6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
If the man (or woman) who committed manslaughter left the city, he/she was paid for. The family could kill him/her. God is very serious about the sanctity of life. This is why judgment for abortion is coming upon this nation.
How long? Until the current High Priest died and a new one took office. (it was a lifetime appointment, it could be for a very long time)