The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
6 The Gershonites received by lot thirteen cities from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
6
The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7 The families of the Merarites received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
7
The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
8 So the People of Israel gave these cities with their pastures to the Levites just as God had ordered through Moses, that is, by lot.
8
So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin the following towns, here named individually
9
From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name
10 (these were for the descendants of Aaron who were from the families of the Kohathite branch of Levi because the first lot fell to them):
10
(these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):
11 Kiriath Arba (Arba was the ancestor of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hills of Judah, with access to the pastures around it.
11
They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
12 The fields of the city and its open lands they had already given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
12
But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
13 To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (the asylum-city for the unconvicted killers), Libnah,
13
So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah,
14 Jattir, Eshtemoa
14
Jattir, Eshtemoa,
15 , Holon, Debir
15
Holon, Debir,
16 , Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, all with their accompanying pastures - nine towns from these two tribes.
16
Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.