Numbers 35:14

Verse

Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.

American Standard Version (1901)

Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.

Bible in Basic English

Three on the other side of Jordan and three in the land of Canaan, to be safe places for flight.

Free Bible Version

Choose three cities on the other side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge.

King James (Authorized) Version

Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

One Unity Resource Bible

You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan [Descender], and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan [Humbled]. They shall be cities of refuge.

Translation for Translators

There must be three of those cities on the east side of the Jordan River and three that will be on the west side, in the Canaan region.

Unlocked Literal Bible

You must provide three cities beyond the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. They will be cities of refuge.

Noah Webster Bible

Ye shall give three cities on this side of Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

World English Bible

You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.

Young's Literal Translation

the three of the cities ye give beyond the Jordan, and the three of the cities ye give in the land of Canaan; cities of refuge they are.

Context

Six Cities of Refuge

¹³The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.¹⁴Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.¹⁵These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

Summary

In this verse, God instructs the Israelites to designate cities of refuge throughout the land. These cities were to serve as safe havens for individuals who unintentionally caused the death of another person. By providing these cities, God demonstrates His mercy and justice, ensuring that those who committed accidental harm would not be subjected to vengeance or retaliation. This command reflects God's concern for fairness and protection of life, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice and showing compassion towards others even in times of tragedy.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ye shall give three cites on this side Jordan,.... Which were Bezer in the wilderness, out of the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, out of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, out of the tribe of Manasseh, Jos 20:8, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan: which were Kadesh in Galilee, in Mount Naphtali; Shechem in Mount Ephraim; and Kirjatharba, or Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, Jos 20:7. which shall be cities of refuge; the three on the other side Jordan, the Jews say, were separated by Moses, and the three in the land of Canaan by Joshua, but not one of them was a refuge until they were all separated (m): it may seem strange that there should be as many in the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan, as in the nine tribes and a half in the land of Canaan; let it be observed, what the Jewish writers, say (n), Moses separated three cities beyond Jordan, and opposite them Joshua separated three in the land of Canaan; and they were like two rows in a vineyard, Hebron in Judea was opposite Bezer in the wilderness; Shechem in Mount Ephraim was opposite Ramoth in Gilead; Kadesh in Mount Naphtali was opposite Golan in Bashan; and the three were so disposed, that there was as much space from the south (of the land of Israel) to Hebron as from Hebron to Shechem; and as much from Hebron to Shechem as from Shechem to Kadesh; and as much from Shechem to Kadesh as from Kadesh to the north beyond Jordan; and it should be known that the land of the tribes beyond Jordan extended in length as far as the land of Canaan, and was equal to it, running along it; so that those in the land of Canaan could soon and easily get over Jordan to the cities of refuge there, if there was occasion; besides, there is a direction given, that if their coast should be enlarged, they were to add three cities more in the land of Canaan, Deu 19:8, hence the Jews have a notion, that in the days of the Messiah those three cities will be added (o); but the Messiah is come already, and is the antitype of them all. (m) Misn. Maccot, c. 2. sect. 4. Maimon. Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 2. 3. & in Pirke, c. 4. sect. 2. & Jarchi in loc. (n) T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 9. 2. (o) Maimon. Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 4.