6 “The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge,g which you will provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give forty-two other cities.h 7 The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, along with their pasturelands.i 8 Of the cities that you give from the Israelites’ territory, you should take more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.j Each tribe is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it receives.”

CITIES OF REFUGE

9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 designate cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.k 12 You will have the cities as a refuge from the avenger,l so that the one who kills someone will not die until he stands trial before the assembly. 13 The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. 14 Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge.m 15 These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the alien or temporary resident among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.