Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
(Joshua 21:1–45; 1 Chronicles 6:54–81)

1  וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת (in the plains) מוֹאָ֑ב (of Moab) עַל־ (by) יַרְדֵּ֥ן (the Jordan) יְרֵח֖וֹ (near Jericho), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  צַו֮ (Command) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel) וְנָתְנ֣וּ (that they give) לַלְוִיִּ֗ם (to the Levites) מִֽנַּחֲלַ֛ת (from the inheritance) אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם (of their possession) עָרִ֣ים (cities) לָשָׁ֑בֶת (to dwell in); וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ (and pastureland) לֶֽעָרִים֙ (the cities) סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם (around) תִּתְּנ֖וּ (you⁺ shall give) לַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites). 3  וְהָי֧וּ (And shall be) הֶֽעָרִ֛ים (the cities) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) לָשָׁ֑בֶת (to dwell in), וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם (and their pasturelands) יִהְי֤וּ (shall be) לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ (for their cattle), וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם (and for their herds), וּלְכֹ֖ל (and for all) חַיָּתָֽם׃ (their animals).

4  וּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙ (And the pasturelands) הֶֽעָרִ֔ים (of the cities) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) תִּתְּנ֖וּ (you⁺ shall give) לַלְוִיִּ֑ם (the Levites) מִקִּ֤יר (is from the wall) הָעִיר֙ (of the city) וָח֔וּצָה (and outward) אֶ֥לֶף (a thousand) אַמָּ֖ה (cubits) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around). 5  וּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם (And you⁺ shall measure) מִח֣וּץ (outside) לָעִ֗יר (of the city) אֶת־ (-) פְּאַת־ (on the side) קֵ֣דְמָה (east) אַלְפַּ֪יִם (two thousand) בָּֽאַמָּ֟ה (by the cubit), וְאֶת־ (and) פְּאַת־ (on the side) נֶגֶב֩ (of the Negev) אַלְפַּ֨יִם (two thousand) בָּאַמָּ֜ה (by the cubit), וְאֶת־ (and) פְּאַת־ (on the side) יָ֣ם׀ (west) אַלְפַּ֣יִם (two thousand) בָּֽאַמָּ֗ה (by the cubit), וְאֵ֨ת (and) פְּאַ֥ת (on the side) צָפ֛וֹן (north) אַלְפַּ֥יִם (two thousand) בָּאַמָּ֖ה (by the cubit); וְהָעִ֣יר (and the city is) בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ (in the middle). זֶ֚ה (This) יִהְיֶ֣ה (shall be) לָהֶ֔ם (unto them) מִגְרְשֵׁ֖י (as pasturelands) הֶעָרִֽים׃ (for the cities).

6  וְאֵ֣ת (And among) הֶֽעָרִ֗ים (the cities) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) תִּתְּנוּ֙ (you⁺ shall give) לַלְוִיִּ֔ם (to the Levites) אֵ֚ת (-) שֵׁשׁ־ (are six) עָרֵ֣י (cities) הַמִּקְלָ֔ט (of refuge), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) תִּתְּנ֔וּ (you⁺ shall give) לָנֻ֥ס (for the fleeing) שָׁ֖מָּה (there) הָרֹצֵ֑חַ (of the manslayer). וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם (And to these) תִּתְּנ֔וּ (you⁺ shall add) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם (and two) עִֽיר׃ (cities). 7  כָּל־ (And all) הֶעָרִ֗ים (the cities) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) תִּתְּנוּ֙ (you⁺ will give) לַלְוִיִּ֔ם (to the Levites) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (are forty) וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה (and eight) עִ֑יר (cities)— אֶתְהֶ֖ן (these) וְאֶת־ (and) מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן׃ (their pasturelands). 8  וְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים (And the cities) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (the) תִּתְּנוּ֙ (you⁺ give) מֵאֲחֻזַּ֣ת (from the possession) בְּנֵי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), מֵאֵ֤ת (from) הָרַב֙ (the larger) תַּרְבּ֔וּ (you⁺ shall give many), וּמֵאֵ֥ת (and from) הַמְעַ֖ט (the smaller) תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ (you⁺ shall give few), אִ֗ישׁ (each) כְּפִ֤י (in proportion to) נַחֲלָתוֹ֙ (the inheritance) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יִנְחָ֔לוּ (each receives) יִתֵּ֥ן (should be given) מֵעָרָ֖יו (of its cities) לַלְוִיִּֽם׃פ (to the Levites).

Six Cities of Refuge
(Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Deuteronomy 19:1–14; Joshua 20:1–9)

9  וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 10  דַּבֵּר֙ (Speak) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (and say) אֲלֵהֶ֑ם (to them): כִּ֥י (When) אַתֶּ֛ם (you⁺) עֹבְרִ֥ים (cross) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן (the Jordan) אַ֥רְצָה (into the land) כְּנָֽעַן׃ (of Canaan), 11  וְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם (and you⁺ shall appoint) לָכֶם֙ (for yourselves) עָרִ֔ים (cities)— עָרֵ֥י (cities) מִקְלָ֖ט (of refuge) תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה (to be) לָכֶ֑ם (for you⁺), וְנָ֥ס (that may flee) שָׁ֙מָּה֙ (there) רֹצֵ֔חַ (the manslayer) מַכֵּה־ (who kills) נֶ֖פֶשׁ (a person) בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃ (in error). 12  וְהָי֨וּ (And they shall be) לָכֶ֧ם (for you⁺) הֶעָרִ֛ים (cities) לְמִקְלָ֖ט (of refuge) מִגֹּאֵ֑ל (from the avenger), וְלֹ֤א (that not) יָמוּת֙ (may die) הָרֹצֵ֔חַ (the manslayer) עַד־ (until) עָמְד֛וֹ (he stands) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הָעֵדָ֖ה (the congregation) לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ (for judgment).

13  וְהֶעָרִ֖ים (And of the cities) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) תִּתֵּ֑נוּ (you⁺ give) שֵׁשׁ־ (six), עָרֵ֥י (cities) מִקְלָ֖ט (of refuge) תִּהְיֶ֥ינָה (will be) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 14  אֵ֣ת׀ (-) שְׁלֹ֣שׁ (three) הֶעָרִ֗ים (cities) תִּתְּנוּ֙ (you⁺ shall appoint) מֵעֵ֣בֶר (on this side) לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (of the Jordan), וְאֵת֙ (and) שְׁלֹ֣שׁ (three) הֶֽעָרִ֔ים (cities) תִּתְּנ֖וּ (you⁺ shall appoint) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan)— עָרֵ֥י (cities) מִקְלָ֖ט (of refuge) תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃ (they are). 15  לִבְנֵ֣י (For the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) וְלַגֵּ֤ר (and for the sojourner) וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ (and for the settler) בְּתוֹכָ֔ם (in your midst) תִּהְיֶ֛ינָה (shall be) שֵׁשׁ־ (six) הֶעָרִ֥ים (cities) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) לְמִקְלָ֑ט (for refuge); לָנ֣וּס (to flee) שָׁ֔מָּה (there) כָּל־ (anyone) מַכֵּה־ (who kills) נֶ֖פֶשׁ (a soul) בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃ (in error).

16  וְאִם־ (But if) בִּכְלִ֨י (with an implement) בַרְזֶ֧ל׀ (iron) הִכָּ֛הוּ (he strikes him) וַיָּמֹ֖ת (and he dies), רֹצֵ֣חַֽ (a murderer) ה֑וּא (he is); מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמַ֖ת (must be put to death) הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ (the murderer). 17  וְאִ֡ם (And if) בְּאֶ֣בֶן (with a stone) יָד֩ (in the hand) אֲשֶׁר־ (with which) יָמ֨וּת (one could die), בָּ֥הּ (by it) הִכָּ֛הוּ (he strikes him) וַיָּמֹ֖ת (and he does die), רֹצֵ֣חַֽ (a murderer) ה֑וּא (he is); מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמַ֖ת (must be put to death) הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ (the murderer). 18  א֡וֹ (Or if) בִּכְלִ֣י (with a weapon) עֵֽץ־ (wooden) יָד֩ (in the hand) אֲשֶׁר־ (with which) יָמ֨וּת (one could die), בּ֥וֹ (by it) הִכָּ֛הוּ (he strikes him) וַיָּמֹ֖ת (and he does die), רֹצֵ֣חַֽ (a murderer) ה֑וּא (he is); מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמַ֖ת (must be put to death) הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ (the murderer).

19  גֹּאֵ֣ל (The avenger) הַדָּ֔ם (of blood) ה֥וּא (himself) יָמִ֖ית (shall put to death) אֶת־ (-) הָרֹצֵ֑חַ (the murderer); בְּפִגְעוֹ־ (when he meets) ב֖וֹ (him), ה֥וּא (he) יְמִיתֶֽנּוּ׃ (shall put him to death).

20  וְאִם־ (And if) בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה (out of hatred) יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ (he pushes him) אֽוֹ־ (or) הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ (hurls something) עָלָ֛יו (at him) בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה (while lying in wait) וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (and he dies), 21  א֣וֹ (or) בְאֵיבָ֞ה (in enmity) הִכָּ֤הוּ (he strikes him) בְיָדוֹ֙ (with his hand) וַיָּמֹ֔ת (and he died), מֽוֹת־ (dying) יוּמַ֥ת (must be put to death) הַמַּכֶּ֖ה (the one who struck him); רֹצֵ֣חַֽ (a murderer) ה֑וּא (he is). גֹּאֵ֣ל (The the avenger) הַדָּ֗ם (of the blood) יָמִ֛ית (shall put to death) אֶת־ (-) הָרֹצֵ֖חַ (the murderer) בְּפִגְעוֹ־ (when he meets) בֽוֹ׃ (him).

22  וְאִם־ (And if) בְּפֶ֥תַע (suddenly) בְּלֹא־ (without) אֵיבָ֖ה (enmity) הֲדָפ֑וֹ (he pushes him) אוֹ־ (or) הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ (throws) עָלָ֛יו (at him) כָּל־ (any) כְּלִ֖י (object) בְּלֹ֥א (without) צְדִיָּֽה׃ (lying in wait), 23  א֣וֹ (or) בְכָל־ (with any) אֶ֜בֶן (stone) אֲשֶׁר־ (with which) יָמ֥וּת (a man could die), בָּהּ֙ (by it) בְּלֹ֣א (without) רְא֔וֹת (seeing him) וַיַּפֵּ֥ל (and throwing it) עָלָ֖יו (at him) וַיָּמֹ֑ת (so that he dies), וְהוּא֙ (and he) לֹא־ (is not) אוֹיֵ֣ב (an enemy) ל֔וֹ (to him) וְלֹ֥א (or) מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (seeking) רָעָתֽוֹ׃ (his harm), 24  וְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ (then shall judge) הָֽעֵדָ֔ה (the congregation) בֵּ֚ין (between) הַמַּכֶּ֔ה (the manslayer) וּבֵ֖ין (and between) גֹּאֵ֣ל (the avenger) הַדָּ֑ם (of the blood) עַ֥ל (according to) הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים (the ordinances) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 25  וְהִצִּ֨ילוּ (And shall deliver) הָעֵדָ֜ה (the congregation) אֶת־ (-) הָרֹצֵ֗חַ (the manslayer) מִיַּד֮ (from the hand) גֹּאֵ֣ל (of the avenger) הַדָּם֒ (of the blood), וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ (and shall return) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) הָֽעֵדָ֔ה (the congregation) אֶל־ (to) עִ֥יר (the city) מִקְלָט֖וֹ (of refuge) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) נָ֣ס (he had fled); שָׁ֑מָּה (there) וְיָ֣שַׁב (and he shall remain) בָּ֗הּ (there) עַד־ (until) מוֹת֙ (the death) הַכֹּהֵ֣ן (of the priest) הַגָּדֹ֔ל (high) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) מָשַׁ֥ח (was anointed) אֹת֖וֹ (-) בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן (with the oil) הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (of holiness).

26  וְאִם־ (But if) יָצֹ֥א (going out) יֵצֵ֖א (goes outside) הָרֹצֵ֑חַ (the manslayer) אֶת־ (-) גְּבוּל֙ (the limits) עִ֣יר (of the city) מִקְלָט֔וֹ (of refuge), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (where) יָנ֖וּס (he fled) שָֽׁמָּה׃ (there), 27  וּמָצָ֤א (and finds) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) גֹּאֵ֣ל (the avenger) הַדָּ֔ם (of the blood) מִח֕וּץ (outside) לִגְב֖וּל (the limits) עִ֣יר (of city) מִקְלָט֑וֹ (of his refuge), וְרָצַ֞ח (and kills) גֹּאֵ֤ל (the avenger) הַדָּם֙ (of the blood) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ (the manslayer), אֵ֥ין (not) ל֖וֹ (he) דָּֽם׃ (be guilty of blood), 28  כִּ֣י (because) בְעִ֤יר (in his city) מִקְלָטוֹ֙ (of refuge) יֵשֵׁ֔ב (he should have remained) עַד־ (until) מ֖וֹת (the death) הַכֹּהֵ֣ן (of the priest) הַגָּדֹ֑ל (high). וְאַחֲרֵ֥י (And after) מוֹת֙ (the death) הַכֹּהֵ֣ן (of the priest) הַגָּדֹ֔ל (high) יָשׁוּב֙ (may return) הָרֹצֵ֔חַ (the manslayer) אֶל־ (to) אֶ֖רֶץ (the land) אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ (of his possession). 29  וְהָי֨וּ (And shall be) אֵ֧לֶּה (these) לָכֶ֛ם (to you⁺) לְחֻקַּ֥ת (a statute) מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (of judgment) לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (throughout your⁺ generations) בְּכֹ֖ל (in all) מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ dwellings).

30  כָּל־ (Whoever) מַ֨כֵּה־ (kills) נֶ֔פֶשׁ (a person), לְפִ֣י (on the testimony) עֵדִ֔ים (of witnesses) יִרְצַ֖ח (shall be put to death) אֶת־ (-) הָרֹצֵ֑חַ (the murderer). וְעֵ֣ד (And witness) אֶחָ֔ד (one) לֹא־ (not) יַעֲנֶ֥ה (shall testify) בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ (against a person) לָמֽוּת׃ (to die).

31  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) תִקְח֥וּ (you⁺ shall take) כֹ֙פֶר֙ (ransom) לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ (for the life) רֹצֵ֔חַ (of a murderer) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) ה֥וּא (is) רָשָׁ֖ע (is condemned) לָמ֑וּת (to die); כִּי־ (for) מ֖וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ (he must be put to death). 32  וְלֹא־ (And not) תִקְח֣וּ (you⁺ shall take) כֹ֔פֶר (ransom) לָנ֖וּס (for him who has fled) אֶל־ (to) עִ֣יר (city) מִקְלָט֑וֹ (of his refuge), לָשׁוּב֙ (that he may return) לָשֶׁ֣בֶת (to dwell) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (in the land) עַד־ (before) מ֖וֹת (the death) הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (of the priest).

33  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) תַחֲנִ֣יפוּ (you⁺ shall pollute) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺ are) בָּ֔הּ (in); כִּ֣י (because) הַדָּ֔ם (the blood), ה֥וּא (itself) יַחֲנִ֖יף (defiles) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land); וְלָאָ֣רֶץ (and for the land) לֹֽא־ (not) יְכֻפַּ֗ר (atonement can be made) לַדָּם֙ (for the blood) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שֻׁפַּךְ־ (is shed) בָּ֔הּ (on it), כִּי־ (except) אִ֖ם (if) בְּדַ֥ם (by the blood) שֹׁפְכֽוֹ׃ (of him who shed it). 34  וְלֹ֧א (And not) תְטַמֵּ֣א (you shall defile) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) יֹשְׁבִ֣ים (are dwelling) בָּ֔הּ (in), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אֲנִ֖י (I) שֹׁכֵ֣ן (dwell) בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ (in the midst). כִּ֚י (For) אֲנִ֣י (I), יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), שֹׁכֵ֕ן (dwell) בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).