New American Standard Bible 1995

Numbers 35

Cities for the Levites

1Now the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֧רvay.da.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872in the plainsבְּעַֽרְבֹ֣תbe.'ar.VotH6160of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124by the Jordanיַרְדֵּ֥ןyar.DenH3383oppositeJerichoיְרֵח֖וֹye.re.ChoH3405,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Commandצַו֮tzavH6680the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֒Yis.ra.'ElH3478that they giveוְנָתְנ֣וּve.na.te.NuH5414to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּ֗םlal.vi.YimH3881from the inheritanceמִֽנַּחֲלַ֛תmi.na.cha.LatH5159of their possessionאֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם'a.chu.za.TamH272citiesעָרִ֣ים'a.RimH5892to liveלָשָׁ֑בֶתla.Sha.vetH3427in; and you shall giveתִּתְּנ֖וּti.te.NuH5414to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּֽם׃lal.vi.YimH3881pastureוּמִגְרָ֗שׁu.mig.RashH4054landsH4054aroundסְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔םse.vi.Vo.tei.HemH5439the citiesלֶֽעָרִים֙le.'a.RimH5892.

3The citiesהֶֽעָרִ֛יםhe.'a.RimH5892shall be theirsH1992to liveלָשָׁ֑בֶתla.Sha.vetH3427in; and their pastureוּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗םu.mig.re.shei.HemH4054landsH4054shall be for their cattleלִבְהֶמְתָּם֙liv.hem.TamH929and for their herdsוְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔םve.lir.khu.ShamH7399and for allוּלְכֹ֖לu.le.KholH3605their beastsH2421.

4“The pastureוּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙u.mig.re.SheiH4054landsH4054of the citiesהֶֽעָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you shall giveתִּתְּנ֖וּti.te.NuH5414to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּ֑םlal.vi.YimH3881shall extendfrom the wallמִקִּ֤ירmi.KirH7023of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892outwardוָח֔וּצָהva.Chu.tzahH2351a thousandאֶ֥לֶף'E.lefH505cubitsאַמָּ֖ה'a.MahH520aroundסָבִֽיב׃sa.VivH5439.

5You shall also measureוּמַדֹּתֶ֞םu.ma.do.TemH4058outsideמִח֣וּץmi.ChutzH4480 H2351the cityלָעִ֗ירla.'IrH5892on the eastקֵ֣דְמָהKe.de.mahH6924sideפְּאַת־pe.'at-H6285two thousandאַלְפַּ֪יִם'al.Pa.yimH505cubitsבָּֽאַמָּ֟הba.'a.MahH520,and on the southנֶגֶב֩ne.GevH5045sideפְּאַת־pe.'at-H6285two thousandאַלְפַּ֨יִם'al.Pa.yimH505cubitsבָּאַמָּ֜הba.'a.MahH520,and on the westיָ֣ם׀yamH3220sideפְּאַת־pe.'at-H6285two thousandאַלְפַּ֣יִם'al.Pa.yimH505cubitsבָּֽאַמָּ֗הba.'a.MahH520,and on the northצָפ֛וֹןtza.FonH6828sideפְּאַ֥תpe.'AtH6285two thousandאַלְפַּ֥יִם'al.Pa.yimH505cubitsבָּאַמָּ֖הba.'a.MahH520,with the cityוְהָעִ֣ירve.ha.'IrH5892in the centerבַּתָּ֑וֶךְba.Ta.vekhH8432.Thisזֶ֚הzehH2088shall becomeיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961theirsH1992as pastureמִגְרְשֵׁ֖יmig.re.SheiH4054landsH4054for the citiesהֶעָרִֽים׃he.'a.RimH5892.

Cities of Refuge

6The citiesהֶֽעָרִ֗יםhe.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you shall giveתִּתְּנוּ֙ti.te.NuH5414to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּ֔םlal.vi.YimH3881shall be thesixשֵׁשׁ־shesh-H8337citiesעָרֵ֣י'a.ReiH5892of refugeהַמִּקְלָ֔טha.mik.LatH4733,whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you shall giveתִּתְּנ֔וּti.te.NuH5414for the manslayerהָרֹצֵ֑חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523to fleeלָנֻ֥סla.NusH5127to; and in additionוַעֲלֵיהֶ֣םva.'a.lei.HemH5921to them you shall giveתִּתְּנ֔וּti.te.NuH5414forty-twoאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם'ar.ba.'Im u.she.Ta.yimH705 H8147citiesעִֽיר׃'IrH5892.

7Allכָּל־kol-H3605the citiesהֶעָרִ֗יםhe.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you shall giveתִּתְּנוּ֙ti.te.NuH5414to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּ֔םlal.vi.YimH3881shall beforty-eightאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה'ar.ba.'Im u.she.mo.NehH705 H8083citiesעִ֑יר'IrH5892,together with their pastureמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן׃mig.re.shei.HenH4054landsH4054.

8As for the citiesוְהֶֽעָרִ֗יםve.he.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you shall giveתִּתְּנוּ֙ti.te.NuH5414from the possessionמֵאֲחֻזַּ֣תme.'a.chu.ZatH272of the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,you shall takeH7235moreH7235from the largerהָרַב֙ha.RavH7227and you shall takeH4591lessH4591from the smallerהַמְעַ֖טham.'AtH4592;eachאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376shall giveיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414someH4480of his citiesמֵעָרָ֖יוme.'a.RavH5892to the Levitesלַלְוִיִּֽם׃ פlal.vi.YimH3881in proportionכְּפִ֤יke.FiH6310to his possessionנַחֲלָתוֹ֙na.cha.la.ToH5159whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he inheritsיִנְחָ֔לוּyin.Cha.luH5157.”

9Then the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

10“Speakדַּבֵּר֙da.BerH1696to the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478and sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֖ve.'a.mar.TaH559to them, ‘Whenכִּ֥יkiH3588you crossעֹבְרִ֥ים'oe.RimH5674the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןhai.yar.DenH3383into the landאַ֥רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667,

11then you shall selectוְהִקְרִיתֶ֤םve.hik.ri.TemH7136for yourselves citiesעָרִ֔ים'a.RimH5892to be yourcitiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892of refugeמִקְלָ֖טmik.LatH4733,that the manslayerרֹצֵ֔חַro.Tze.achH7523who haskilledמַכֵּה־ma.keh-H5221any personנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315unintentionallyבִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃bish.ga.GahH7684may fleeוְנָ֥סve.NasH5127thereשָׁ֙מָּה֙Sha.mahH8033.

12The citiesהֶעָרִ֛יםhe.'a.RimH5892shall be to you as a refugeלְמִקְלָ֖טle.mik.LatH4733from the avengerמִגֹּאֵ֑לmi.go.'ElH1350,so that the manslayerהָרֹצֵ֔חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523will not dieיָמוּת֙ya.MutH4191untilעַד־'ad-H5704he standsעָמְד֛וֹa.me.DoH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the congregationהָעֵדָ֖הha.'e.DahH5712fortrialלַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃la.mish.PatH4941.

13The citiesוְהֶעָרִ֖יםve.he.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you are to giveתִּתֵּ֑נוּti.Te.nuH5414shall be your sixשֵׁשׁ־shesh-H8337citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892of refugeמִקְלָ֖טmik.LatH4733.

14Youshall giveH5414threeשְׁלֹ֣שׁshe.LoshH7969citiesהֶעָרִ֗יםhe.'a.RimH5892acrossמֵעֵ֣בֶרme.'E.verH4480 H5676the Jordanלַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןlai.yar.DenH3383and threeשְׁלֹ֣שׁshe.LoshH7969citiesהֶֽעָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667;they are to be citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892of refugeמִקְלָ֖טmik.LatH4733.

15Theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהha.'E.lehH428sixשֵׁשׁ־shesh-H8337citiesהֶעָרִ֥יםhe.'a.RimH5892shall be for refugeלְמִקְלָ֑טle.mik.LatH4733for the sonsלִבְנֵ֣יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and for the alienוְלַגֵּ֤רve.la.GerH1616and for the sojournerוְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ve.la.to.ShavH8453amongבְּתוֹכָ֔םbe.to.KhamH8432them; that anyoneכָּל־kol-H3605whokillsמַכֵּה־ma.keh-H5221a personנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315unintentionallyבִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃bish.ga.GahH7684may fleeלָנ֣וּסla.NusH5127thereשָׁ֔מָּהSha.mahH8033.

16‘But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he struckH5221him downהִכָּ֛הוּhi.Ka.huH5221with an ironבַרְזֶ֧ל׀var.ZelH1270objectבִּכְלִ֨יbikh.LiH3627,so that he diedH4191,he is a murdererרֹצֵ֣חַֽro.Tze.achH7523;the murdererהָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ha.ro.Tze.achH7523shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

17Ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518he struckH5221him downהִכָּ֛הוּhi.Ka.huH5221with a stoneבְּאֶ֣בֶןbe.'E.venH68in the handיָד֩yadH3027,by whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he will dieH4191, and as a resulthe diedH4191,he is a murdererרֹצֵ֣חַֽro.Tze.achH7523;the murdererהָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ha.ro.Tze.achH7523shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

18Orא֡וֹ'oH176if he struckהִכָּ֛הוּhi.Ka.huH5221him with a woodenעֵֽץ־'etz-H6086objectבִּכְלִ֣יbikh.LiH3627in the handיָד֩yadH3027,by whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he might dieH4191, and as a resulthe diedH4191,he is a murdererרֹצֵ֣חַֽro.Tze.achH7523;the murdererהָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ha.ro.Tze.achH7523shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

19The bloodהַדָּ֔םha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֣לgo.'ElH1350himselfH1931shall putיָמִ֖יתya.MitH4191the murdererהָרֹצֵ֑חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523to deathיְמִיתֶֽנּוּ׃ye.mi.Te.nuH4191;he shall putH4191him to deathH4191when he meetsבְּפִגְעוֹ־be.fig.'ov-H6293him.

20Ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he pushedיֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּyeh.da.Fe.nuH1920him of hatredבְּשִׂנְאָ֖הbe.sin.'AhH8135,orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176threwהִשְׁלִ֥יךְhish.LikhH7993something at himlyingH6660in waitבִּצְדִיָּ֖הbitz.di.YahH6660and as a resulthe diedוַיָּמֹֽת׃vai.ya.MotH4191,

21orא֣וֹ'oH176if he struckH5221him downH5221with his handבְיָדוֹ֙ve.ya.DoH3027in enmityבְאֵיבָ֞הve.'ei.VahH342, and as a resulthe diedH4191,the one who struckH5221him shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191,he is a murdererרֹצֵ֣חַֽro.Tze.achH7523;the bloodהַדָּ֗םha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֣לgo.'ElH1350shall putH4191the murdererהָרֹצֵ֖חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523to deathH4191when he meetsבְּפִגְעוֹ־be.fig.'ov-H6293him.

22‘But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518he pushedהֲדָפ֑וֹha.da.FoH1920him suddenlyבְּפֶ֥תַעbe.Fe.ta'H6621withoutבְּלֹא־be.lo'-H3808enmityאֵיבָ֖ה'ei.VahH342,orאוֹ־'ov-H176threwהִשְׁלִ֥יךְhish.LikhH7993somethingכָּל־ כְּלִ֖יkol- ke.LiH3605 H3627at him withoutבְּלֹ֥אbe.Lo'H3808lyingH6660in waitצְדִיָּֽה׃tze.di.YahH6660,

23orא֣וֹ'oH176with anyבְכָל־ve.khol-H3605deadlyאֲשֶׁר־ יָמ֥וּת'a.Sher- ya.MutH834 H4191object of stoneאֶ֜בֶן'E.venH68,and withoutH3808seeingרְא֔וֹתre.'otH7200it droppedוַיַּפֵּ֥לvai.ya.PelH5307on him so that he diedוַיָּמֹ֑תvai.ya.MotH4191,while he was not his enemyH340norH3808seekingמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245his injuryH7463,

24thenthe congregationהָֽעֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712shall judgeוְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ve.sha.fe.TuH8199betweenH996the slayerהַמַּכֶּ֔הha.ma.KehH5221and the bloodהַדָּ֑םha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֣לgo.'ElH1350accordingעַ֥ל'alH5921to theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.lehH428ordinancesהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖יםha.mish.pa.TimH4941.

25The congregationהָעֵדָ֜הha.'e.DahH5712shall deliverוְהִצִּ֨ילוּve.hi.Tzi.luH5337the manslayerהָרֹצֵ֗חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523from the handמִיַּד֮mi.YadH3027of the bloodהַדָּם֒ha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֣לgo.'ElH1350,and the congregationהָֽעֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712shall restoreוְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּve.he.Shi.vuH7725him to his cityעִ֥יר'irH5892of refugeמִקְלָט֖וֹmik.la.ToH4733to whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he fledנָ֣סnasH5127;and he shall liveוְיָ֣שַׁבve.Ya.shavH3427in it untilעַד־'ad-H5704the deathמוֹת֙mOtH4194of the highהַגָּדֹ֔לha.ga.DolH1419priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ןha.ko.HenH3548whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834was anointedמָשַׁ֥חma.ShachH4886with the holyהַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ha.Ko.deshH6944oilבְּשֶׁ֥מֶןbe.She.menH8081.

26But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518the manslayerהָרֹצֵ֑חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523at anyH3318timeH3318goesH3318beyondH3318the borderגְּבוּל֙ge.VulH1366of his cityעִ֣יר'irH5892of refugeמִקְלָט֔וֹmik.la.ToH4733to whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he may fleeיָנ֖וּסya.NusH5127,

27and the bloodהַדָּ֔םha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֣לgo.'ElH1350findsוּמָצָ֤אu.ma.Tza'H4672him outsideמִח֕וּץmi.ChutzH4480 H2351the borderלִגְב֖וּלlig.VulH1366of his cityעִ֣יר'irH5892of refugeמִקְלָט֑וֹmik.la.ToH4733,and the bloodהַדָּם֙ha.DamH1818avengerגֹּאֵ֤לgo.'ElH1350killsוְרָצַ֞חve.ra.TzachH7523the manslayerהָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523,he will not be guilty of bloodדָּֽם׃DamH1818

28becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588he should have remainedיֵשֵׁ֔בye.ShevH3427in his cityבְעִ֤ירve.'IrH5892of refugeמִקְלָטוֹ֙mik.la.ToH4733untilעַד־'ad-H5704the deathמ֖וֹתMotH4194of the highהַגָּדֹ֑לha.ga.DolH1419priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ןha.ko.HenH3548.But afterוְאַחֲרֵ֥יve.'a.cha.ReiH310the deathמוֹת֙mOtH4194of the highהַגָּדֹ֔לha.ga.DolH1419priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ןha.ko.HenH3548the manslayerהָרֹצֵ֔חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523shall returnיָשׁוּב֙ya.ShuvH7725to the landאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776of his possessionאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃'a.chu.za.ToH272.

29‘TheseH428thingsאֵ֧לֶּה'E.lehH428shall be for astatutoryלְחֻקַּ֥תle.chu.KatH2708ordinanceמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941to you throughout your generationsלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑םle.do.ro.tei.KhemH1755in allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3605your dwellingsמוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃mo.she.vo.tei.KhemH4186.

30‘If anyoneכָּל־kol-H3605killsמַ֨כֵּה־Ma.keh-H5221a personנֶ֔פֶשׁNe.feshH5315,the murdererH7523shall be putH7523to deathH7523at theevidenceלְפִ֣יle.FiH6310of witnessesעֵדִ֔ים'e.DimH5707, butnoלֹא־lo'-H3808personבְנֶ֖פֶשׁve.Ne.feshH5315shall be putH4191to deathH4191on the testimonyיַעֲנֶ֥הya.'a.NehH6030of oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259witnessוְעֵ֣דve.'EdH5707.

31Moreover, you shall not takeתִקְח֥וּtik.ChuH3947ransomכֹ֙פֶר֙kho.ferH3724for the lifeלְנֶ֣פֶשׁle.Ne.feshH5315of a murdererרֹצֵ֔חַro.Tze.achH7523whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834is guiltyרָשָׁ֖עra.Sha'H7563of deathH4191,but he shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

32You shall not takeתִקְח֣וּtik.ChuH3947ransomכֹ֔פֶרKho.ferH3724for him who has fledלָנ֖וּסla.NusH5127to his cityעִ֣יר'irH5892of refugeמִקְלָט֑וֹmik.la.ToH4733,that he may returnלָשׁוּב֙la.ShuvH7725to liveלָשֶׁ֣בֶתla.She.vetH3427in the landבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776beforeעַד־'ad-H5704the deathמ֖וֹתMotH4194of the priestהַכֹּהֵֽן׃ha.ko.HenH3548.

33So you shall not polluteתַחֲנִ֣יפוּta.cha.Ni.fuH2610the landהָאָ֗רֶץha.'A.retzH776in whichH834you are; for bloodהַדָּ֔םha.DamH1818pollutesיַחֲנִ֖יףya.cha.NifH2610the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776and noH3808expiationH3722can be madeH3722for the landוְלָאָ֣רֶץve.la.'A.retzH776for the bloodלַדָּם֙la.DamH1818that is shedשֻׁפַּךְ־shu.pakh-H8210on it, exceptאִ֖ם'imH3588 H518by the bloodבְּדַ֥םbe.DamH1818of him who shedשֹׁפְכֽוֹ׃sho.fe.KhoH8210it.

34You shall notdefileתְטַמֵּ֣אte.ta.Me'H2930the landהָאָ֗רֶץha.'A.retzH776in whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you liveיֹשְׁבִ֣יםyo.she.VimH3427,in the midstבְּתוֹכָ֑הּbe.to.KhahH8432of whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834I dwellשֹׁכֵ֣ןsho.KhenH7931;for I the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068am dwellingשֹׁכֵ֕ןsho.KhenH7931in the midstבְּת֖וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.’”

Cities for the Levites

Cities of Refuge

Commentaries on Numbers 35