² at Shiloh^(A) in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns^(B) to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”^(C)

Division of the Rest of the Land

18 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh^(A) and set up the tent of meeting^(B) there. The country was brought under their control,

² “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in^(A) from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands^(B) around the towns. ³ Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.^(C)

⁴ “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits^[a] from the town wall. ⁵ Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits^[b](D) on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.^(E)

Cities of Refuge^(F)

⁶ “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee.^(G) In addition, give them forty-two other towns. ⁷ In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. ⁸ The 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.”^(H)

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a](C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b](D)

⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(A)

¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.^(A)

⁹ “The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits^[a] wide.^{(A) 10} This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord.^{(B) 11} This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites,^(C) who were faithful in serving me^(D) and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.^{(E) 12} It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites.

¹³ “Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits.^{(F) 14} They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord.^(G)

¹⁵ “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits^[b] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it ¹⁶ and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits,^[c] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.^{(H) 17} The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits^[d] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. ¹⁸ What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.^(I)