In
the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying: “Command the Israelites to give, from the
inheritance that they possess, towns for the Levites to live in; you
shall also give to the Levites pasture lands surrounding the towns.1
The towns shall be theirs to live in,2
and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle, for their
livestock, and for all their animals. The pasture lands of the towns,
which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the
town outwards a thousand cubits all around. You shall measure,
outside the town,3
for the east side two thousand cubits, for the south side two
thousand cubits, for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the
north side two thousand cubits,4
with the town in the middle; this shall belong to them as pasture
land for their towns.”
“The towns that you give to the Levites shall include the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit a slayer to flee,5 and in addition to them you shall give forty-two towns. The towns that you give to the Levites shall total forty-eight, with their pasture lands. And as for the towns that you shall give from the possession of the Israelites, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it obtains,6 shall give of its towns to the Levites.”
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, so that a slayer who kills a person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger,7 so that the slayer may not die until there is a trial before the congregation.”8
“The cities that you designate shall be six cities of refuge for you: you shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall serve as refuge for the Israelites, for the resident or transient alien among them,9 so that anyone who kills a person without intent may flee there.”
1 Despite lacking granted land, they do get pasture.
“The towns that you give to the Levites shall include the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit a slayer to flee,5 and in addition to them you shall give forty-two towns. The towns that you give to the Levites shall total forty-eight, with their pasture lands. And as for the towns that you shall give from the possession of the Israelites, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it obtains,6 shall give of its towns to the Levites.”
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, so that a slayer who kills a person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger,7 so that the slayer may not die until there is a trial before the congregation.”8
“The cities that you designate shall be six cities of refuge for you: you shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall serve as refuge for the Israelites, for the resident or transient alien among them,9 so that anyone who kills a person without intent may flee there.”
1 Despite lacking granted land, they do get pasture.
2
Will it be Levites alone in the towns?
3
I'm confused whether “outside the town” is synonymous with the
wall.
4
Quite specific.
5
“slayer” to flee! Quite unusual purpose for a town.
6
Again, fairness in distribution.
7
Ah, safety from vigilantes.
8
“avenger” was an accepted role in the culture, but this ensures
a trial.
9
Aliens get the refuge too.
Take-home: The tribes who are granted land must set aside cities and pastureland for the welfare of the Levites, who are granted no land. Also, cities of refuge to protect those who have killed others until their trial are designated.
Take-home: The tribes who are granted land must set aside cities and pastureland for the welfare of the Levites, who are granted no land. Also, cities of refuge to protect those who have killed others until their trial are designated.
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