Levitical Cities

35 The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near^[a] Jericho, ² “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. ³ The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands^[b] are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. ⁴ The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits^[c] from the walls of the town. ⁵ You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits,^[d] on the south side 2,000 cubits,^[e] on the west side 2,000 cubits,^[f] and on the north side 2,000 cubits,^[g] with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing^[h] land for their towns. ⁶ You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns. ⁷ The total number of towns that you are to give to the descendants of Levi is to be 48 towns, including grazing lands surrounding these towns. ⁸ You are to apportion the towns that you will be giving the Israelis according to the relative size of the tribe. Take a larger portion from those larger in number and a lesser portion from those fewer in number. Each is to set aside towns for the descendants of Levi proportional to the size of their inheritance that they receive.”