8. The cities which you shall give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel. From the larger tribes you shall give many, and from the smaller tribes you shall give few. Each tribe, in proportion to the inheritance that it receives, shall give of its cities to the Levites.
9. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
10. Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you are crossing over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11. then you shall designate cities as your cities of refuge, so that a manslayer who unintentionally kills a person may flee there.
12. The cities will be for you a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer does not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
13. The cities which you designate shall be your six cities of refuge.
14. You will give three cities across the Jordan, and three cities you will give in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
15. For the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the foreign sojourner among them will be six cities. These will be for a refuge. Everyone that unintentionally kills any person may flee there.
16. If he strikes him with an instrument of iron, so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.
17. If he strikes him with a stone in hand, by which hecould die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.
18. Or if he strikes him with a weapon of wood in hand, by which he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.