Study Desk

And Moses said to them: If you do what you promise, go on well appointed for war before the Lord:

Build therefore cities for your children, and folds and stalls for your sheep and beasts, and accomplish what you have promised.

If the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben pass with you over the Jordan, all armed for war before the Lord, and the land be made subject to you: give them Galaad in possession.

And Bethnemra, and Betharan, fenced cities, and folds for their cattle.

Cleansing the land, and dwelling in it. For I have given it you for a possession.

The south side shall begin from the wilderness of Sin, which is by Edom: and shall have the most salt sea for its furthest limits eastward:

For the tribe of the children of Ruben by their families, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the number of their kindreds, and half of the tribe of Manasses,

Cities to dwell in, and their suburbs round about: that they may abide in the towns, and the suburbs may be for them cattle and beasts:

And among the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, six shall be separated for refuge to fugitives, that he who hath shed blood may flee to them: and besides these there shall be other forty-two cities,

Determine what cities shall be for the refuge of fugitives, who have shed blood against their will.

And of those cities, that are separated for the refuge of fugitives,

As well for the children of Israel as for strangers and sojourners, that he may flee to them, who hath shed blood against his will.

If the murderer be found without the limits of the cities that are appointed for the banished,

For the fugitive ought to have stayed in the city until the death of the high priest: and after he is dead, then shall the manslayer return to his own country.

These things shall be perpetual, and for an ordinance in all your dwellings.

And thus shall your possession be cleansed, myself abiding with you. For I am the Lord that dwell among the children of Israel.

Lest the possession of the children of Israel be mingled from tribe to tribe. For all men shall marry wives of their own tribe and kindred:

I alone am not able to bear you: for the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and you are this day as the stars of heaven, for multitude.

The Lord God, who is your leader, himself will fight for you, as he did in Egypt in the sight of all.

And yet for all this you did not believe the Lord your God,