Numbers 35:1-8

Towns for the Levites 1On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns.

3Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals. 4“The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits That is, about 1,500 feet or about 450 meters from the town wall.

5Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters 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.

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

8The 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.”