Numbers 35:1-6

1 The Lord spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab across from Jericho by the Jordan River. He said,

2 "Command the Israelites to give the Levites cities to live in from the land they receive. Also give the Levites the pastureland around these cities.

3 Then the Levites will have cities where they may live and pastureland for their cattle, flocks, and other animals.

4 The pastureland you give the Levites will extend fifteen hundred feet from the city wall.

5 Also measure three thousand feet in each direction outside the city wall -- three thousand feet east of the city, three thousand feet south of the city, three thousand feet west of the city, and three thousand feet north of the city, with the city in the center. This will be pastureland for the Levites' cities.

6 "Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of safety. A person who accidentally kills someone may run to one of those cities for safety. You must also give forty-two other cities to the Levites;

Numbers 35:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 35

Though the tribe of Levi had no part in the division of the land, yet cities out of the several tribes are here ordered to be given them to dwell in, to the number of forty eight, Nu 35:1-8, six of which were to be cities of refuge, Nu 35:9-15, but not for wilful murderers, in whatsoever way they might kill a man, Nu 35:16-21, but for such who had killed a man unawares, Nu 35:22-24, and several rules are given relating to such persons, Nu 35:25-29, but no satisfaction was to be taken in case of murder, nor to excuse a person's return to his own house before the death of the high priest, who had fled to a city of refuge, that so the land might not be defiled, Nu 35:30-34.