1. In the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho the Lord said to Moses,
2. “Tell the Israelites that from the property they receive they must give the Levites some cities to live in and pasture land round the cities.
3. These cities will belong to the Levites, and they will live there. The pasture land will be for their cattle and all their other animals.
4. The pasture land is to extend outwards from the city walls 450 metres in each direction,
5. so that there is a square area measuring 900 metres on each side, with the city in the middle.
6. You are to give the Levites six cities of refuge to which a man can escape if he kills someone accidentally. In addition, give them 42 other cities
7. with their pasture land, making a total of 48.
8. The number of Levite cities in each tribe is to be determined according to the size of its territory.”
9. The Lord told Moses
10. to say to the people of Israel: “When you cross the River Jordan and enter the land of Canaan,
11. you are to choose cities of refuge to which a man can escape if he kills someone accidentally.
12. There he will be safe from the dead person's relative who seeks revenge. No one accused of manslaughter is to be put to death without a public trial.
13. Choose six cities,
14. three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan.
15. These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.
16-18. “If, however, anyone uses a weapon of iron or stone or wood to kill someone, he is guilty of murder and is to be put to death.
19. The dead person's nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds him, he is to kill him.
20. “If anyone hates someone and kills him by pushing him down or by throwing something at him