Study Desk

at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for our livestock."

The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,

they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,

This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah-two cities, along with their pasturelands.

And from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan-three cities, along with their pasturelands.

And from the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,

So in all there were forty-eight cities for the Levites, along with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.

Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.

And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

"This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: 'What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.

If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD's possession, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!'"

If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you-you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!' So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

That is why we said, 'Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.

Therefore we said, 'If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer: Here is the copy of the altar of the LORD that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.'

Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle."