5. You shall measure from the wall of the city outward on the east, south, west, and north sides 2,000 cubits, the city being in the center. This shall belong to [the Levites] as [suburb] pasturelands for their cities.
6. Of the cities which you shall give to the Levites there shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee into; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
7. So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; you shall give them with their adjacent [suburb] pasturelands.
8. As for the cities, you shall give from the possession of the Israelites, from the larger tribes you shall take many and from the smaller tribes few; each tribe shall give of its cities to the Levites in proportion to its inheritance.
9. And the Lord said to Moses,
10. Say to the Israelites, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11. Then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the slayer who kills any person unintentionally and unawares may flee there.
12. And the cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he has had a fair trial before the congregation.