Numbers 35:6-33
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 35
6The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall provide for the one who commits manslaughter to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. 7The total number of the cities which you are to give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities, together with their pasture lands. 8As for the cities which you shall give them from the possession of the sons of Israel, you shall take more from the larger, and you shall take fewer from the smaller; each shall give some of his cities to the Levites in proportion to his inheritance which he possesses.'
9Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, so that the one who commits manslaughter by killing a person unintentionally may flee there.
12The cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who commits manslaughter does not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.
13So the cities which you are to provide shall be six cities of refuge for you.
14You shall provide three cities across the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.
15These six cities shall be a refuge for the sons of Israel, for the stranger, and for the foreign resident among them; so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
16‘But if he struck him with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
17And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
18Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
19The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him.
20Now if he pushed him in hatred, or he threw something at him with malicious intent, and as a result he died,
21or if he struck him with his hand with hostility, and as a result he died, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22‘But if he pushed him suddenly, without hostility, or threw any object at him without malicious intent,
23or had any deadly stone, and without looking he dropped it on him so that he died, while he was not his enemy nor was he seeking to harm him,
24then the congregation shall judge between the one who fatally struck the victim and the blood avenger in accordance with these ordinances.
25And the congregation shall save the one who committed manslaughter from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall return him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26But if at any time he goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he flees,
27and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills him, he will not be guilty of bloodshed,
28because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the one who committed manslaughter may return to the land of his property.
30‘ If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
31Moreover, you shall not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is condemned to death, but he must be put to death.
32And you shall not accept a ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, so that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest.
33So you shall not defile the land in which you live; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
King James Version
Chapter 35
6And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 8And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.
9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
12And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
13And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
15These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
16And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
20But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
21Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.
22But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
23Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
24Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
25And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
26But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
27And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
28Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
29So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
31Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
32And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 35
6"The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you will provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give forty-two other cities. 7The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, along with their pasturelands. 8Of the cities that you give from the Israelites' territory, you should take more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one. Each tribe is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it receives."
9The Lord said to Moses,
10"Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11designate cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.
12You will have the cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who kills someone will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
13The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.
14Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge.
15These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the alien or temporary resident among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
16"If anyone strikes a person with an iron object and death results, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
17If anyone has in his hand a stone capable of causing death and strikes another person and he dies, the murderer must be put to death.
18If anyone has in his hand a wooden object capable of causing death and strikes another person and he dies, the murderer must be put to death.
19The avenger of blood himself is to kill the murderer; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
20Likewise, if anyone in hatred pushes a person or throws an object at him with malicious intent and he dies,
21or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood is to kill the murderer when he finds him.
22"But if anyone suddenly pushes a person without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent
23or without looking drops a stone that could kill a person and he dies, but he was not his enemy and didn't intend to harm him,
24the assembly is to judge between the person who kills someone and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
25The assembly is to protect the one who kills someone from the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge he fled to, and he must live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26"If the one who kills someone ever goes outside the border of the city of refuge he fled to,
27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the border of his city of refuge and kills him, the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed,
28for the one who killed a person was supposed to live in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may the one who has killed a person return to the land he possesses.
29These instructions will be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations wherever you live.
30"If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.
31You are not to accept a ransom for the life of someone who is guilty of murder; he must be put to death.
32Neither should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to his city of refuge, allowing him to return and live in the land before the death of the high priest.
New Living Translation
Chapter 35
6Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7In all, forty-eight towns with the surrounding pastureland will be given to the Levites. 8These towns will come from the property of the people of Israel. The larger tribes will give more towns to the Levites, while the smaller tribes will give fewer. Each tribe will give property in proportion to the size of its land.'
10Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. 'When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally.
12These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.
13Designate six cities of refuge for yourselves,
14three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan.
15These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety.
16But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.
17Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.
18Or if someone strikes and kills another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.
19The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer to death.
20So if someone hates another person and waits in ambush, then pushes him or throws something at him and he dies, it is murder.
21Or if someone hates another person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.
22But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person,
23or accidentally drops a huge stone on someone, though they were not enemies, and the person dies.
24If this should happen, the community must follow these regulations in making a judgment between the slayer and the avenger, the victim’s nearest relative:
25The community must protect the slayer from the avenger and must escort the slayer back to live in the city of refuge to which he fled. There he must remain until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the sacred oil.
26But if the slayer ever leaves the limits of the city of refuge,
27and the avenger finds him outside the city and kills him, it will not be considered murder.
28The slayer should have stayed inside the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to his own property.
29These are legal requirements for you to observe from generation to generation, wherever you may live.
30All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
31Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death.
32And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest.
33This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder.
English Standard Version
Chapter 35
6“The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. 7All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. 8And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites.”
9And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
10“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there.
12The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
13And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge.
14You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.
15These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.
16“But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
17And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
18Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
19The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died,
21or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22“But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait
23or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm,
24then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.
25And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled,
27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood.
28For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
29And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
30“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
31Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.
32And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.
33You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
New International Version
Chapter 35
6Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.'
9Then the LORD said to Moses:
10Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,
11select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee.
12They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
13These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge.
14Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge.
15These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
16'If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.
17Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.
18Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.
19The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.
20If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die
21or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.
22'But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
23or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended,
24the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.
25The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
26'But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled
27and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder.
28The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.
New King James Version
Chapter 35
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. 7So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land. 8And 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.”
9Then 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,
11then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.
12They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.
13And of the cities which you give, you shall have six cities of refuge.
14You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
15These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
16‘But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,
21or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
23or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm,
24then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.
25So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled,
27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood,
28because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
29‘And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.
31Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
32And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.
33So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
