Numbers 35:6–15

Cities of Refuge

35:6-34^Ref — Dt 4:41–43; 19:1–14; Jos 20:1–9

“Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee.^a In addition, give them forty-two other towns. In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”^b

Then the Lord said to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,^c select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone^d accidentally^e may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger,^f so that anyone accused of murder^g may not die before standing trial before the assembly.^h These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge.ⁱ Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.