1 The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" spoke|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" Moses|strong="H4872". This|strong="H3068" was|strong="H3068" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" Jordan|strong="H3383" Valley in|strong="H5921" Moab|strong="H4124", near|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H3405", across|strong="H5921" from|strong="H5921" Jericho|strong="H3405". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
2 “Tell the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" that|strong="H3478" they|strong="H3478" should|strong="H3478" give|strong="H5414" some of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" cities|strong="H5892" in|strong="H3427" their|strong="H5414" part of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H5159" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881". The|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" should|strong="H3478" give|strong="H5414" these cities|strong="H5892" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" pastures around|strong="H5439" them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881".
3 The|strong="H3605" Levites will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" able to|strong="H1961" live|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" them|strong="H1961". And|strong="H4054" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" cattle|strong="H0929" and|strong="H4054" other|strong="H3605" animals|strong="H0929" that|strong="H3605" belong|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" Levites will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" able to|strong="H1961" eat from|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" pastures around these|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892".
4 \+w How|strong="H0834"\+w* \+w much|strong="H0834"\+w* \+w of|strong="H0505"\+w* \+w your|strong="H5414"\+w* land should \+w you|strong="H0834"\+w* \+w give|strong="H5414"\+w* \+w to|strong="H5414"\+w* \+w the|strong="H0834"\+w* \+w Levites|strong="H3881"\+w*? From|strong="H3881" the|strong="H0834" walls|strong="H7023" of|strong="H0505" the|strong="H0834" cities|strong="H5892", go out|strong="H2351" 1500 feet|strong="H0520"—all|strong="H5439" of|strong="H0505" that|strong="H0834" land will|strong="H0834" belong to|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0834" Levites|strong="H3881".
5 Measure|strong="H4058" off|strong="H0853" an|strong="H1961" area around the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" for|strong="H2088" the|strong="H0853" Levites. Start at|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" northeast corner|strong="H6285" and|strong="H4054" measure|strong="H4058" 3000 feet|strong="H0520" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" south|strong="H5045". Then|strong="H1961" from|strong="H6285" this|strong="H2088" corner|strong="H6285", measure|strong="H4058" 3000 feet|strong="H0520" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" west|strong="H3220". From|strong="H6285" there|strong="H1961" measure|strong="H4058" 3000 feet|strong="H0520" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" north|strong="H6828" and|strong="H4054" from|strong="H6285" that|strong="H2088" corner|strong="H6285", 3000 feet|strong="H0520" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" east|strong="H6924". The|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" in|strong="H8432" the|strong="H0853" center|strong="H8432" of|strong="H8432" this|strong="H2088" area.
6 Six|strong="H8337" of|strong="H5921" those|strong="H0834" cities|strong="H5892" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H5414" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H5921" safety. If|strong="H0834" a|strong="H5414" person accidentally kills|strong="H7523" someone|strong="H5414", that|strong="H0834" person can|strong="H0834" run|strong="H5127" to|strong="H5921" those|strong="H0834" towns|strong="H5892" for|strong="H5921" safety. In|strong="H5921" addition|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5921" those|strong="H0834" six|strong="H8337" cities|strong="H5892", you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0853" give|strong="H5414" 42 more|strong="H5921" cities|strong="H5892" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881".
7 So|strong="H5414" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" give|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" total|strong="H3605" of|strong="H3605" 48 cities|strong="H5892" to|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881". You|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0853" give|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" land around those|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892".
8 The|strong="H0853" large|strong="H7227" tribes of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H0834" get|strong="H4591" large|strong="H7227" pieces of|strong="H1121" land|strong="H5159". The|strong="H0853" small|strong="H4592" tribes of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H0834" get|strong="H4591" small|strong="H4592" pieces of|strong="H1121" land|strong="H5159". So|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" large|strong="H7227" tribes will|strong="H0834" give|strong="H5414" more|strong="H7235" cities|strong="H5892" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" small|strong="H4592" tribes will|strong="H0834" give|strong="H5414" fewer cities|strong="H5892" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" Levites|strong="H3881".”
9 Then|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Moses|strong="H4872",
10 “Tell|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H1121" this|strong="H3588": You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H0776" cross|strong="H5674" the|strong="H0853" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H0776" and|strong="H1121" go|strong="H5674" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H1121" Canaan|strong="H3667".
11 You|strong="H5221" must choose towns|strong="H5892" to|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H5315" safety. If|strong="H1961" someone|strong="H5315" accidentally|strong="H7684" kills|strong="H5221" another person|strong="H5315", that|strong="H1961" person|strong="H5315" can run|strong="H5127" to|strong="H1961" one|strong="H1961" of|strong="H5315" those|strong="H5315" towns|strong="H5892" for|strong="H8033" safety.
12 That|strong="H1961" person will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" safe from|strong="H6440" anyone|strong="H7523" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" dead|strong="H4191" man’s family|strong="H4191" who|strong="H5975" wants to|strong="H5704" punish the|strong="H6440" killer until|strong="H5704" that|strong="H1961" person is|strong="H4941" judged|strong="H4941" in|strong="H4191" court|strong="H4941".
13 There|strong="H1961" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" six|strong="H8337" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0834" safety.
14 Three|strong="H7969" of|strong="H0776" them|strong="H5414" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" east|strong="H5676" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H0776" and|strong="H0776" three|strong="H7969" of|strong="H0776" them|strong="H5414" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Canaan|strong="H3667", west|strong="H5676" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H0776".
15 These|strong="H0428" cities|strong="H5892" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" places|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" safety for|strong="H3605" citizens|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H1121" for|strong="H3605" foreigners|strong="H1616" and|strong="H1121" travelers. Any|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" these|strong="H0428" people|strong="H1121" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" able to|strong="H1961" run|strong="H5127" to|strong="H1961" one|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" these|strong="H0428" cities|strong="H5892" if|strong="H1961" they|strong="H8033" accidentally|strong="H7684" kill|strong="H5221" someone|strong="H5315".
16 “If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" use|strong="H1931" an|strong="H5221" iron|strong="H1270" weapon|strong="H3627" to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" someone|strong="H4191", you|strong="H0518" are|strong="H3627" a|strong="H0518" murderer|strong="H7523", and|strong="H4191" you|strong="H0518" must|strong="H4191" die|strong="H4191".
17 If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0834" use|strong="H1931" a|strong="H0518" rock|strong="H0068" large enough|strong="H3027" to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" someone|strong="H4191" and|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0834" kill|strong="H4191" another|strong="H0068" person|strong="H3027", you|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0518" murderer|strong="H7523", and|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" die|strong="H4191".
18 If|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" use|strong="H1931" a|strong="H0176" piece of|strong="H3027" wood|strong="H6086" large enough|strong="H3027" to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" someone|strong="H4191" and|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0834" kill|strong="H4191" another person|strong="H3027", you|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0176" murderer|strong="H7523", and|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" die|strong="H4191".
19 A|strong="H4191" member of|strong="H1818" the|strong="H0853" dead|strong="H4191" person’s family|strong="H4191" can chase you|strong="H0853" and|strong="H1818" kill|strong="H4191" you|strong="H0853".
22 “You|strong="H0518" might accidentally kill someone, maybe by|strong="H5921" pushing or|strong="H0176" by|strong="H5921" accidentally hitting them|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" a|strong="H0176" tool|strong="H3627" or|strong="H0176" weapon|strong="H3627".
23 Perhaps you|strong="H0834" threw|strong="H5307" a|strong="H0176" rock|strong="H0068" that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" large enough to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191", but|strong="H3808" it|strong="H1931" hit someone|strong="H5307" you|strong="H0834" didn’t|strong="H3808" see|strong="H7200" and|strong="H0068" killed|strong="H4191" them|strong="H5921". You|strong="H0834" didn’t|strong="H3808" plan to|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" anyone|strong="H3605". You|strong="H0834" didn’t|strong="H3808" hate the|strong="H3605" person|strong="H1245" you|strong="H0834" killed|strong="H4191"—it|strong="H1931" was|strong="H0834" only|strong="H5307" an|strong="H7200" accident.
24 If that happens, the|strong="H5921" community|strong="H5712" must|strong="H1818" decide|strong="H8199" what|strong="H4941" to|strong="H5921" do. The|strong="H5921" court|strong="H4941" must|strong="H1818" decide|strong="H8199" if a|strong="H5221" member of|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" dead person’s family can kill|strong="H5221" you|strong="H5921".
25 If|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" community|strong="H5712" decides to|strong="H0413" protect you|strong="H0834" from|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" dead|strong="H4194" person’s family, the|strong="H0853" community|strong="H5712" must|strong="H0853" take|strong="H7725" you|strong="H0834" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H3027" safety. You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" stay|strong="H3427" there|strong="H8033" until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0853" official high|strong="H1419" priest|strong="H3548" dies|strong="H4194".
28 Whoever accidentally killed|strong="H7523" someone must|strong="H0776" stay|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" their|strong="H3588" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0776" safety until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H3588" high|strong="H1419" priest|strong="H3548" dies|strong="H4194". After|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3588" high|strong="H1419" priest|strong="H3548" dies|strong="H4194", that|strong="H3588" person|strong="H0413" can|strong="H3548" go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" their|strong="H3588" own|strong="H0272" land|strong="H0776".
29 These|strong="H0428" rules|strong="H2708" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" law forever|strong="H1755" in|strong="H1755" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" towns of|strong="H3605" your|strong="H3605" people.
30 “A|strong="H5221" killer should be|strong="H4191" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H4191" death|strong="H4191" as|strong="H5315" a|strong="H5221" murderer|strong="H7523" only|strong="H0259" if there|strong="H3605" are|strong="H6310" witnesses|strong="H5707". No|strong="H3808" one|strong="H0259" can|strong="H3808" be|strong="H4191" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H4191" death|strong="H4191" if there|strong="H3605" is|strong="H5315" only|strong="H0259" one|strong="H0259" witness|strong="H5707".
31 “A|strong="H3947" murderer|strong="H7523" must|strong="H4191" be|strong="H4191" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H4191" death|strong="H4191". Don’t|strong="H3808" take|strong="H3947" money to|strong="H4191" change the|strong="H0834" punishment. That|strong="H0834" murderer|strong="H7523" must|strong="H4191" be|strong="H4191" killed|strong="H4191".
32 “If a|strong="H3947" person|strong="H0413" killed someone and|strong="H0776" then|strong="H3947" ran|strong="H5127" to|strong="H0413" one|strong="H3808" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0413" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0776" safety, don’t|strong="H3808" take|strong="H3947" money to|strong="H0413" let|strong="H3808" that|strong="H3808" person|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7725" home|strong="H0776". That|strong="H3808" person|strong="H0413" must|strong="H3947" stay|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" that|strong="H3808" city|strong="H5892" until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0413" high priest|strong="H3548" dies|strong="H4194".
33 “Don’t|strong="H3808" let|strong="H3808" your|strong="H0834" land|strong="H0776" be|strong="H3808" polluted|strong="H2610" with|strong="H0776" innocent blood|strong="H1818". If|strong="H0518" a|strong="H3588" person|strong="H1818" murders someone, the|strong="H0853" only|strong="H0518" payment for|strong="H3588" that|strong="H0834" crime|strong="H1818" is|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" murderer must|strong="H0853" be|strong="H3808" killed! There|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" no|strong="H3808" other payment that|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0776" free the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" from|strong="H0776" that|strong="H0834" crime|strong="H1818".
34 I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3808" living|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" your|strong="H3068" country|strong="H0776" with|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478", so|strong="H3808" don’t|strong="H3808" make|strong="H2930" it|strong="H3588" unclean|strong="H2930" with|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" blood of|strong="H1121" innocent people|strong="H1121".”