Verse 2

Speak to the people of Israel, saying: Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge that I spoke about to you through Moses.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 4:41-43 : 41 Then Moses set apart three cities east of the Jordan. 42 These were for anyone who accidentally killed a neighbor without prior hostility, so that they could flee to one of these cities and live. 43 The cities were Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
  • Num 35:6 : 6 The cities that you give to the Levites shall include six cities of refuge for someone who kills another unintentionally to flee to; in addition, give them forty-two more cities.
  • Num 35:11-24 : 11 you shall designate cities to serve as cities of refuge where someone who unintentionally kills another may flee. 12 These cities shall serve as a refuge from the avenger of blood, so that the one who killed someone unintentionally may not be put to death until they stand trial before the congregation. 13 The cities you are to give will serve as six cities of refuge. 14 Three of these cities you shall give on the east side of the Jordan, and three in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities will be a refuge for the Israelites, for the foreigner, and for the sojourner living among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills another can flee there. 16 But if someone strikes another with an iron object and the person dies, they are a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death. 17 If someone strikes another with a stone that is large enough to cause death and the person dies, they are a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. 18 Or if someone strikes another with a wooden tool that could cause death, and the person dies, they are a murderer; the murderer must be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when they encounter the murderer, the avenger is to put them to death. 20 If someone pushes another out of hatred or throws something at them with intent and the person dies, 21 or if in hostility someone strikes another with their hand and the person dies, the one who struck them must be put to death. They are a murderer. The avenger of blood is to execute the sentence when they meet the murderer. 22 But if suddenly, without hostility, someone pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally, 23 or if, without seeing them, they drop a stone on someone that could cause death, and the person dies, but there was no enmity or intentional harm between them, 24 then the assembly must judge between the one who caused the death and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
  • Deut 19:2-9 : 2 you are to set apart three cities in the midst of the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. 3 Prepare roads for yourself and divide your land into three regions, the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that anyone who kills someone may flee there. 4 Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: whoever strikes his neighbor unintentionally, without prior malice, 5 for instance, when a man goes with his neighbor into the forest to cut wood and his hand swings the axe to cut the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his neighbor, and he dies—that man may flee to one of these cities and live. 6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in anger, overtake him because the way is long, and strike him fatally, even though the manslayer does not deserve death, since he had no prior hatred towards his neighbor. 7 This is why I am commanding you: Set apart three cities for yourselves. 8 And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your ancestors, and gives you the entire land He promised to give them, 9 and you carefully keep this entire commandment I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to walk in His ways all your days, then you shall add three more cities to these three. 10 This is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood within the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed. 11 But if someone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, attacks him, and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and then flees to one of these cities, 12 the elders of his city shall send for him, take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to be put to death. 13 Do not pity him, but purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may go well with you.
  • Rom 8:1 : 1 So now, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
  • Rom 8:33-34 : 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
  • Heb 6:18-19 : 18 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
  • Exod 21:13-14 : 13 But if he did not intend to kill, and it was allowed by God to happen, then I will provide a place where he can flee. 14 However, if someone schemes and acts deliberately to kill his neighbor, you shall take him even from my altar to be put to death.