Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
(Joshua 21:1–45; 1 Chronicles 6:54–81)

1And the Lord spake vnto Moses in the plaine of Moab by Iorden, toward Iericho, saying, 2Commande ye children of Israel, that they giue vnto the Leuites of the inheritace of their possession, cities to dwell in: yee shall giue also vnto the Leuites the suburbes of the cities round about them. 3So they shall haue the cities to dwell in, & their suburbes shall be for their cattell, and for their substance, and for all their beasts.

4And the suburbes of the cities, which ye shal giue vnto the Leuites, from the wall of the citie outward, shalbe a thousand cubites round about. 5And yee shall measure without the citie of the Eastside, two thousand cubites: and of the Southside, two thousand cubites: & of the Westside, two thousand cubites: & of ye Northside, two thousand cubites: & the citie shalbe in ye middes. this shalbe the measure of the suburbes of their cities.

6And of the cities which yee shall giue vnto the Leuites, there shalbe sixe cities for refuge, which ye shal appoint, that he which killeth, may flee thither: and to them yee shall adde two and fourtie cities mo. 7All the cities which yee shall giue to the Leuites, shalbe eight and fourtie cities: them shal ye giue with their suburbes. 8And concerning the cities which yee shall giue, of the possession of the children of Israel: of many ye shall take mo, and of few ye shall take lesse: euery one shall giue of his cities vnto the Leuites, according to his inheritance, which hee inheriteth.

Six Cities of Refuge
(Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Deuteronomy 19:1–14; Joshua 20:1–9)

9And the Lorde spake vnto Moses, saying, 10Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them, When ye be come ouer Iorden into the land of Canaan, 11Ye shall appoint you cities, to bee cities of refuge for you, that the slayer, which slayeth any person vnwares, may flee thither. 12And these cities shalbe for you a refuge fro the auenger, that he which killeth, die not, vntill he stand before the Congregation in iudgement. 13And of the cities which ye shall giue, sixe cities shall ye haue for refuge. 14Ye shall appoint three on this side Iorden, and ye shall appoint three cities in the lande of Canaan which shalbe cities of refuge. 15These six cities shalbe a refuge for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for him that dwelleth among you, that euery one which killeth any person vnwares, may flee thither.

16And if one smite another with an instrument of yron that hee die, hee is a murtherer, and the murtherer shall die the death. 17Also if hee smite him by casting a stone, wherewith hee may be slaine, and he die, hee is a murtherer, and the murtherer shall die the death. 18Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may be slaine, if he die, he is a murtherer, and the murtherer shall die the death. 19The reuenger of the blood himselfe shall slay the murtherer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 20But if hee thrust him of hate, or hurle at him by laying of wait, that he die, 21Or smite him through enimitie with his hand, that he die, he that smote him shal die ye death: for hee is a murtherer: the reuenger of the blood shall slay the murtherer when he meeteth him.

22But if he pusshed him vnaduisedly, and not of hatred, or cast vpon him any thing, without laying of waite, 23Or any stone (whereby he might be slaine) and sawe him not, or caused it to fall vpon him, and he die, and was not his enemie, neither sought him any harme, 24Then the Congregation shall iudge betweene the slayer and the auenger of blood according to these lawes. 25And the Congregation shall deliuer the slayer out of the hande of the auenger of blood, and the Congregation shall restore him vnto the citie of his refuge, whither hee was fled: and hee shal abide there vnto the death of the hie Priest, which is anointed with the holy oyle. 26But if the slayer come without the borders of the citie of his refuge, whither he was fled, 27And the reuenger of blood finde him without the borders of the citie of his refuge, & the reueger of blood slay ye murtherer, he shalbe giltles, 28Because he should haue remained in the citie of his refuge, vntill the death of the hie Priest: and after the death of the hie Priest, the slayer shal returne vnto the land of his possession.

29So these thinges shall be a lawe of iudgement vnto you, throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

30Whosoeuer killeth any person, the Iudge shall slay the murtherer, through witnesses: but one witnesse shall not testifie against a person to cause him to die. 31Moreouer ye shall take no recompense for the life of the murtherer, which is worthy to die: but he shalbe put to death. 32Also ye shall take no recompense for him that is fled to the citie of his refuge, that he should come againe, and dwell in the lande, before the death of the hie Priest. 33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye shall dwell: for blood defileth the land: and the land cannot be clensed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34Defile not therefore the lande which yee shall inhabite, For I dwell in the middes thereof: for I the Lord dwel among the children of Israel.