17 “‘If a man takes a human life,* he should be put to death without fail.+

18 “You should appoint judges+ and officers for each tribe in all the cities* that Jehovah your God is giving you, and they must judge the people with righteous judgment.

8 “If a case arises in one of your cities that is too difficult for you to judge, whether it is a case involving bloodshed+ or a legal claim that has been raised or a violent deed that has been committed or other matters of dispute, you should rise up and go to the place that Jehovah your God chooses.+ 9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge+ serving in those days, and make your inquiry, and they will hand down the decision to you.+