Makkot 10B

״מקלט״ היה כתוב על פרשת דרכים, כדי שיכיר הרוצח ויפנה לשם. אמר רב כהנא: מאי קרא? ״תכין לך הדרך״⁠ – עשה [לך] הכנה לדרך.

Refuge was written on signs at every crossroads marking the path to a city of refuge, so that the unintentional murderer would identify the route to the city of refuge and turn to go there. Rav Kahana said: What is the verse from which this is derived? “Prepare for you the road” (Deuteronomy 19:3), meaning: Perform for you preparation of the road.

רב חמא בר חנינא פתח לה פתחא להאי פרשתא מהכא: ״טוב וישר ה׳ על כן יורה חטאים בדרך״⁠ – אם לחטאים יורה, קל וחומר לצדיקים.

§ Apropos that halakha, the Talmud cites that Rav Ḥama bar Ḥanina introduced this portion with regard to the halakhot of exile with an introduction from here: “Good and upright is God; therefore He directs sinners along the way” (Psalms 25:8). He said: If He directs sinners by commanding the placing of signs directing them to the city of refuge, it may be inferred a fortiori that He will assist and direct the righteous along the path of righteousness.

רבי שמעון בן לקיש פתח לה פתחא להאי פרשתא מהכא: ״ואשר לא צדה והאלהים אנה לידו וגו׳״, ״כאשר יאמר משל הקדמני מרשעים יצא רשע וגו׳״,

R' Shimon ben Lakish introduced this portion with an introduction from here: It is stated with regard to an unintentional murderer: “And one who did not lie in wait, but God caused it to come to his hand, and I will appoint you a place where he may flee” (Exodus 21:13). Now this is puzzling. Why would God cause one to sin in this manner? The verse states: “As the ancient parable says: From the wicked comes forth wickedness” (I Samuel 24:13). Evil incidents befall those who have already sinned.

במה הכתוב מדבר ⁠– בשני בני אדם שהרגו את הנפש, אחד הרג בשוגג ואחד הרג במזיד, לזה אין עדים ולזה אין עדים. הקדוש ברוך הוא מזמינן לפונדק אחד, זה שהרג במזיד יושב תחת הסולם, וזה שהרג בשוגג יורד בסולם, ונפל עליו והרגו, זה שהרג במזיד ⁠– נהרג, וזה שהרג בשוגג ⁠– גולה.

Reish Lakish explains: In this light, the verse “But God caused it to come to his hand” may be understood. With regard to what scenario is the verse speaking? It is with regard to two people who killed a person, where one killed unintentionally while the other killed intentionally. For this person there are no witnesses to his action, and for that person there are no witnesses to his action; therefore, neither received the appropriate punishment of exile and execution, respectively. God summons them to one inn. This person who killed intentionally sits beneath a ladder, and that person who killed unintentionally descends the ladder, and he falls upon him and kills him. There were witnesses to that incident and therefore, that person who killed intentionally is killed, and that person who killed unintentionally is exiled, each receiving what he deserved.