1. On the flatlands of Moab, the Lord spoke to Moses. It was by the Jordan River across from Jericho. The Lord said,
2. "Command the people of Israel to give the Levites towns to live in. The towns must come from the shares of land the people will have as their own. Also give the Levites the grasslands that are around the towns.
3. Then the Levites will have towns to live in. They will also have grasslands that are for their cattle, flocks and all of their other livestock.
4. "The grasslands that are around each town you give them will go out to 1,500 feet from the town wall.
5. Outside each town, the east side will measure 3,000 feet. The south side will measure 3,000 feet. The west side will measure 3,000 feet. And the north side will measure 3,000 feet. The town must be in the center. The Levites will have the area around it as grasslands.
6. "Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities to go to for safety. A person who has killed someone can run to one of them. Also give the Levites 42 other towns.
7. You must give the Levites a total of 48 towns. Also give them the grasslands that are around the towns.
8. "The towns you give the Levites must come from the land the people of Israel have as their own. So the number you give from each tribe will depend on the size of that tribe's share. Take many towns from a tribe that has many. But take only a few towns from a tribe that has only a few."
9. Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
10. "Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'You will soon go across the Jordan River. You will enter Canaan.
11. When you do, choose the cities to go to for safety. People who have killed someone by accident can run to one of those cities.
12. They will be places of safety for them. People will be safe there from those who want to kill them. Then those who are charged with murder will not die before their case has been brought to the community court.
13. " 'Six towns will be the cities you can go to for safety.
14. Three will be east of the Jordan River. The other three will be in Canaan.
15. " 'Those six towns will be places where the people of Israel can go for safety. Outsiders and any other people living in Israel can also go to them for safety. So anyone who has killed another person by accident can run there.
16. " 'Suppose a person uses an iron object to hit and kill someone. Then he is a murderer. He must be put to death.
17. Or suppose a person is holding a stone that could kill. And he uses it to hit and kill someone. Then he is a murderer. He must be put to death.