4. The pastureland you give the Levites will extend 1,500 feet from the city wall.
5. Also measure 3,000 feet in each direction from the city wall. Measure 3,000 feet east of the city. Measure 3,000 feet south of the city. Measure 3,000 feet west of the city. And measure 3,000 feet north of the city. The city will be 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 might accidentally kill someone. If he does, he may run to one of those cities for safety. You must also give 42 other cities to the Levites.
7. Give the Levites a total of 48 cities and their pastures.
8. The larger tribes of Israel must give more cities. The smaller tribes must give fewer cities. Each tribe must give some of its cities to the Levites. The number of cities they give will depend on the size of their land.”
9. Then the Lord said to Moses,
10. “Tell the Israelites these things: ‘You will cross the Jordan River and go into Canaan.
11. You must choose cities to be cities of safety. If a person accidentally kills someone, he may run to them for safety.
12. There he will be safe from the dead person’s relative who has the duty of punishing the killer. He will not die before he is judged in court.
13. The six cities you give will be cities of safety.
14. Give three cities east of the Jordan River. And give three cities in Canaan as cities of safety.
15. These six cities will be places of safety for citizens of Israel. And they will be for foreigners and other people living with you. Any of these people may run to one of these cities if he accidentally kills someone.
16. “‘If a person uses an iron weapon to kill someone, he is a murderer. He must be put to death.
17. A person might take a rock that could kill someone. If he kills a person with it, he is a murderer. He must be put to death.
18. A person might pick up a piece of wood that could kill someone. If he kills someone with it, he is a murderer. He must be put to death.
19. A relative of the dead person must put the murderer to death. When he finds the murderer, he must kill him.
20. A person might shove someone and kill him. Or he might throw something at someone and kill him.