You reason more like a bronze-age shepherd than you give yourself credit for. No, the manslaughter/murder distinction isn't the whole passage's concern, it is only one example.
The distinctions I see in this passage are between: Killing intentionally and or with planning and treachery vs. accidentally Killing someone unrelated vs. killing one's parent Beating a slave to death vs. beating a slave nearly to death Beating a slave badly enough to where they lose an eye or a hand vs. only lightly beating the slave (ugh) Crippling someone in a fight permanently vs simply knocking them unconscious or breaking a leg that sets properly and heals such that they can walk without a cane. Owning an ox that gores others multiple times despite being warned that the animal should be put down vs. owning the ox who does it once. harming the pregnant woman while accidentally inducing miscarriage vs only accidentally inducing miscarriage.
Re: OK, I'll bite a bit more*
The distinctions I see in this passage are between:
Killing intentionally and or with planning and treachery vs. accidentally
Killing someone unrelated vs. killing one's parent
Beating a slave to death vs. beating a slave nearly to death
Beating a slave badly enough to where they lose an eye or a hand vs. only lightly beating the slave (ugh)
Crippling someone in a fight permanently vs simply knocking them unconscious or breaking a leg that sets properly and heals such that they can walk without a cane.
Owning an ox that gores others multiple times despite being warned that the animal should be put down vs. owning the ox who does it once.
harming the pregnant woman while accidentally inducing miscarriage vs only accidentally inducing miscarriage.
Does that make it any clearer?