Numbers 35:6–15

⁶And among the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, six shall be separated for refuge to fugitives, that he who hath shed blood may flee to them: and besides these there shall be other forty-two cities,

⁷That is, in all forty-eight with their suburbs.

⁸And of these cities which shall be given out of the possessions of the children of Israel, from them that have more, more shall be taken: and from them that have less, fewer. Each shall give towns to the Levites according to the extent of their inheritance.

⁹The Lord said to Moses:

¹⁰Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When you shall have passed over the Jordan into the land of Chanaan,

¹¹Determine what cities shall be for the refuge of fugitives, who have shed blood against their will.

¹²And when the fugitive shall be in them, the kinsman of him that is slain may not have power to kill him, until he stand before the multitude, and his cause be judged.

¹³And of those cities, that are separated for the refuge of fugitives,

¹⁴Three shall be beyond the Jordan, and three in the land of Chanaan,

¹⁵As well for the children of Israel as for strangers and sojourners, that he may flee to them, who hath shed blood against his will.