5. Outside the city measure off 3,000 feet on the east side, 3,000 feet on the south side, 3,000 feet on the west side, and 3,000 feet on the north side, with the city in the center. This will be their pastureland around the city.
6. “Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of refuge. You must allow murderers to escape to these cities. In addition, you must also give the Levites 42 other cities.
7. So you will give a total of 48 cities with pastureland to the Levites.
8. The cities you give the Levites from the property of the other Israelites must be given based on the amount of land each tribe owns. Take more cities from larger tribes and fewer from smaller tribes.”
9. The Lord said to Moses,
10. “Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan,
11. select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them.
12. These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community.
13. There will be six cities you select as places of refuge,
14. three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan.
15. These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.
16. “But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
17. If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
18. Or if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
19. The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.
20. If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him,
21. or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.
22. “But suppose you accidentally kill someone who wasn’t your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but didn’t mean to kill him.