Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1The LORD again spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:"

1וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃

2Command the Israelites to give cities out of their hereditary property for the Levites to live in and pastureland around the cities.

2צַו֮ אֶת־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָתְנ֣וּ לַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִֽנַּחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַלְוִיִּֽם׃

3The cities will be for them to live in, and their pasturelands will be for their herds, flocks, and all their other animals.

3וְהָי֧וּ הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לָהֶ֖ם לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם יִהְי֤וּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיָּתָֽם׃

4The pasturelands of the cities you are to give the Levites will extend from the city wall 500 yards on every side.

4וּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַלְוִיִּ֑ם מִקִּ֤יר הָעִיר֙ וָח֔וּצָה אֶ֥לֶף אַמָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃

5Measure 1,000 yards outside the city for the east side, 1,000 yards for the south side, 1,000 yards for the west side, and 1,000 yards for the north side, with the city in the center. This will belong to them as pasturelands for the cities."

5וּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֗יר אֶת־ פְּאַת־ קֵ֣דְמָה אַלְפַּ֪יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֟ה וְאֶת־ פְּאַת־ נֶגֶב֩ אַלְפַּ֨יִם בָּאַמָּ֜ה וְאֶת־ פְּאַת־ יָ֣ם ׀ אַלְפַּ֣יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֗ה וְאֵ֨ת פְּאַ֥ת צָפ֛וֹן אַלְפַּ֥יִם בָּאַמָּ֖ה וְהָעִ֣יר בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ זֶ֚ה יִהְיֶ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מִגְרְשֵׁ֖י הֶעָרִֽים׃

6The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you must provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give 42 other cities.

6וְאֵ֣ת הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֵ֚ת שֵׁשׁ־ עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתְּנ֔וּ לָנֻ֥ס שָׁ֖מָּה הָרֹצֵ֑חַ וַעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם תִּתְּנ֔וּ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם עִֽיר׃

7The total number of cities you give the Levites will be 48, along with their pasturelands.

7כָּל־ הֶעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה עִ֑יר אֶתְהֶ֖ן וְאֶת־ מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן׃

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."

8וְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵאֲחֻזַּ֣ת בְּנֵי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֤ת הָרַב֙ תַּרְבּ֔וּ וּמֵאֵ֥ת הַמְעַ֖ט תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ אִ֗ישׁ כְּפִ֤י נַחֲלָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִנְחָ֔לוּ יִתֵּ֥ן מֵעָרָ֖יו לַלְוִיִּֽם׃ פ

9The LORD said to Moses, "

9וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

10Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

10דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃

11designate cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.

11וְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ עָרִ֔ים עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָ֥ס שָׁ֙מָּה֙ רֹצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־ נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃

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.

12וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֧ם הֶעָרִ֛ים לְמִקְלָ֖ט מִגֹּאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א יָמוּת֙ הָרֹצֵ֔חַ עַד־ עָמְד֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

13The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.

13וְהֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑נוּ שֵׁשׁ־ עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּהְיֶ֥ינָה לָכֶֽם׃

14Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge.

14אֵ֣ת ׀ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ הֶעָרִ֗ים תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְאֵת֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים תִּתְּנ֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃

15These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or temporary resident among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there."

15לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵׁשׁ־ הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־ מַכֵּה־ נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃

16If anyone strikes a person with an iron object and death results, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

16וְאִם־ בִּכְלִ֨י בַרְזֶ֧ל ׀ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃

17If a man has in his hand a stone capable of causing death and strikes another person and he dies, the murderer must be put to death.

17וְאִ֡ם בְּאֶ֣בֶן יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־ יָמ֨וּת בָּ֥הּ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃

18If a man 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.

18א֡וֹ בִּכְלִ֣י עֵֽץ־ יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־ יָמ֨וּת בּ֥וֹ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃

19The avenger of blood himself is to kill the murderer; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

19גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יָמִ֖ית אֶת־ הָרֹצֵ֑חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־ ב֖וֹ ה֥וּא יְמִיתֶֽנּוּ׃

20Likewise, if anyone in hatred pushes a person or throws an object at him with malicious intent and he dies,

20וְאִם־ בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־ הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃

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."

21א֣וֹ בְאֵיבָ֞ה הִכָּ֤הוּ בְיָדוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת מֽוֹת־ יוּמַ֥ת הַמַּכֶּ֖ה רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֗ם יָמִ֛ית אֶת־ הָרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־ בֽוֹ׃

22But if anyone suddenly pushes a person without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent

22וְאִם־ בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹא־ אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אוֹ־ הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־ כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה׃

23or without looking drops a stone that could kill a person and he dies, but he was not his enemy and wasn't trying to harm him,

23א֣וֹ בְכָל־ אֶ֜בֶן אֲשֶׁר־ יָמ֥וּת בָּהּ֙ בְּלֹ֣א רְא֔וֹת וַיַּפֵּ֥ל עָלָ֖יו וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהוּא֙ לֹא־ אוֹיֵ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֽוֹ׃

24the assembly is to judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.

24וְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין הַמַּכֶּ֔ה וּבֵ֖ין גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֑ם עַ֥ל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

25The assembly is to protect the one who kills someone from the hand of 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."

25וְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־ הָרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֮ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־ עִ֥יר מִקְלָט֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־ נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־ מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־ מָשַׁ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

26If the one who kills someone ever goes outside the border of the city of refuge he fled to,

26וְאִם־ יָצֹ֥א יֵצֵ֖א הָרֹצֵ֑חַ אֶת־ גְּבוּל֙ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה׃

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,

27וּמָצָ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם מִח֕וּץ לִגְב֖וּל עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־ הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּֽם׃

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.

28כִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטוֹ֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־ מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־ אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃

29These instructions will be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations wherever you live."

29וְהָי֨וּ אֵ֧לֶּה לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּכֹ֖ל מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

30If 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.

30כָּל־ מַ֨כֵּה־ נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְפִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ֖ח אֶת־ הָרֹצֵ֑חַ וְעֵ֣ד אֶחָ֔ד לֹא־ יַעֲנֶ֥ה בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ לָמֽוּת׃

31You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of killing someone; he must be put to death.

31וְלֹֽא־ תִקְח֥וּ כֹ֙פֶר֙ לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ רֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ ה֥וּא רָשָׁ֖ע לָמ֑וּת כִּי־ מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

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."

32וְלֹא־ תִקְח֣וּ כֹ֔פֶר לָנ֖וּס אֶל־ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַד־ מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

33Do not defile the land where you are, for bloodshed defiles the land, and there can be no atonement for the land because of the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the person who shed it.

33וְלֹֽא־ תַחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־ הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־ יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־ בָּ֔הּ כִּי־ אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹׁפְכֽוֹ׃

34Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I reside; for I, Yahweh, reside among the Israelites."

34וְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־ הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

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