New King James Version

Numbers 35:5-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

5. And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city shall be in the middle. This shall belong to them as common-land for the cities.

6. “Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.

7. So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land.

8. And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives.”

9. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

10. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

11. then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.