"to save his own life." The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. AT: "so the family of the man who died does not kill him to get revenge" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
"but did not hate his neighbor before he killed him." This implies there was no cause for him to kill his neighbor purposely. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
This means the head of the ax hits and kills the neighbor.
# to one of these cities and save his life
It is implied that the family of the dead man may try to get revenge. The man who killed him can flee to one of these cities, and the people there would protect him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])