Makkot 9 – Exile for Inadvertent Killing

A blind person who killed inadvertently is not exiled, since "without seeing" excludes him from responsibility, says Rabbi Yehudah. However, Rabbi Meir says there is another exclusion, "without awareness," and the double negative becomes affirmative, so a blind inadvertent killer is exiled.

An "enemy" is one who deliberately avoids speaking to the victim of an "accidental" killing for three days. An "enemy" is not exiled, because he can't claim accidental killing. Rabbi Yose says an "enemy" is considered forewarned and therefore is executed. Rabbi Shimon looks at the circumstances of the case.

There were three cities of refuge in Transjordan, and three in the land of Canaan. Direct roads were constructed to facilitate getting to a city of refuge. The court would provide the accidental killer with two Torah scholars, and they would try to dissuade the avenging relative from wishing to attack. Then the court would bring him from the city of refuge and determine the degree of his responsibility.

Art: The Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind by Pieter Brueghel the Elder