Makkot 7B

היה עולה בסולם ונפל עליו והרגו ⁠– הרי זה אינו גולה. זה הכלל: כל שבדרך ירידתו ⁠– גולה, ושלא בדרך ירידתו ⁠– אינו גולה.

or if one was climbing a ladder and he fell upon a person and killed him, that unintentional murderer is not exiled. This is the principle: Any murderer who kills unintentionally through his downward motion is exiled, and one who kills not through his downward motion is not exiled.

גמ׳ מנא הני מילי? דאמר שמואל דאמר קרא: ״ויפל עליו וימת״⁠ – עד שיפול דרך נפילה.

Talmud: The Talmud asks with regard to the principle that one is exiled only if he killed unintentionally through a downward motion: From where are these matters derived? It is derived from a verse, as Shmuel says that the verse states with regard to those exiled to a city of refuge: “And he cast it down upon him and dies” (Numbers 35:23), indicating that one is not liable to be exiled unless the item falls in a downward motion.

תנו רבנן: ״בשגגה״⁠ – פרט למזיד. ״בבלי דעת״⁠ – פרט למתכוין.

A baraita states derivations from verses written with regard to the unintentional murderer: “Unintentionally” (Numbers 35:11); to exclude from exile the one who kills intentionally. “Unawares” (Deuteronomy 19:4); to exclude from exile the one who kills with intent.

מזיד? פשיטא, בר קטלא הוא! אלא אמר רבא: אימא פרט לאומר מותר. אמר ליה אביי: אי אומר מותר, אנוס הוא? אמר ליה: שאני אומר, האומר מותר ⁠– קרוב למזיד הוא.

The Talmud asks: Why is a derivation necessary to exclude one who kills intentionally? It is obvious that he is not exiled; he is subject to the death penalty. Rather, Rava said: Say that the type of intentional killer referred to is meant to exclude the one who says that it is permitted to kill the victim. The verse teaches that this person is neither executed nor is he exiled. Abaye said to Rava: If the reference is to one who says that it is permitted, he is a victim of circumstances beyond his control, as he did not know any better. How could that be characterized as intentional? Rava said to him: That is not a problem, as I say that with regard to one who says that it is permitted, his action borders on the intentional.