What is the nature of the Cities of Refuge? Parashat Masei seems to imply that they have a legal function: defending a murderer until he is accused or acquitted, and punishing him with exile if the killing is deemed unintentional. However, Parashat Shoftim seems to describe the cities of refuge as protective, intended to protect the killer from the blood avenger. Is the blood avenger permitted to kill the accidental killer? Are the two episodes discussing the same killer? What are the differences, and what is the reason behind them?