THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
If a man commits an unintentional murder, the law prescribes a sentence of perpetual exile, while exercising a degree of mercy and wisely differentiating between unintentional acts and willful crimes. He instructed the establishment of three cities, which were designated as places of refuge (Deuteronomy 4:41 ff.); in these cities, individuals fleeing from unintentional wrongdoing may find asylum. Furthermore, the Lord has set a specific duration for their protection, which coincides with the death of the high priest.
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The Scriptures express this in the book of Numbers: “If he should push him unintentionally, without enmity, or should throw something on him without intent, or should drop some stone, from which one may die, without seeing it, on him so that he should die, but he was not his enemy and did not wish him harm, then the society shall judge between the murderer and the avenger of blood according to these decrees; And the company shall save the murderer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the company shall return him to the city of his refuge, where he fled, that he may dwell there until the death of the great priest, who is anointed with holy oil” (see Num. 35:28 for further interpretation).