Numbers 35:1-18 ▼

1 THE LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying,

2 Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and they shall give also to the Levites the suburbs of the cities round about them.

3 And the cities they shall have to dwell in; and their suburbs shall be for their cattle and for their herds and for all their beasts.

4 And the suburbs of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

5 And you shall measure from outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst; this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

6 And among the cities which you shall give to the Levites, six cities shall be set aside for you for refuge, that the manslayer who had slain his neighbor without intent may flee thither; and to them you shall add forty-two other cities.

7 So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities in all, together with their suburbs.

8 And with regard to the cities which you shall give of the inheritance of the children of Israel: from those that have many you shall take many; but from those that have few you shall take few; every one shall give of his cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance which he inherits.

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

10 Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

11 Then you shall select for yourselves cities to he cities of refuge for you; that the person who kills someone unawares may flee there.

12 And they shall be to you cities for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not be killed until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

13 And of these cities which you shall give, six cities shall you have for refuge.

14 You shall give three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

15 These six cities shall be for refuge, both for the children of Israel and for the proselytes and for the sojourner among them; that every one who kills any person unawares may flee there.

16 But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he might die, and he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

17 And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, so that he might die, and he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

18 Or if he struck him with an instrument of wood by hand, so that he might die, and he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.