בְּמִדְבַּר 35

1 וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מֹואָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֹ֖ו לֵאמֹֽר׃

Adonai spoke to Moses [Drawn out] in the plains of Moab [From father] by the Jordan [Descender] at Jericho [Fragrant, Moon], saying,

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

“Enjoin the children of Israel [God prevails] to give to the Levites [Descendants of United with] of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in. You shall give suburbs for the cities around them to the Levites [Descendants of United with].

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

They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their suburbs shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their animals.

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

“The suburbs of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites [Descendants of United with], shall be from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits [1/3 mi; 457.2 km] around it.

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

You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits [1/2 mi; 914 km], and for the south side two thousand cubits [1/2 mi; 914 km], and for the west side two thousand cubits [1/2 mi; 914 km], and for the north side two thousand cubits [1/2 mi; 914 km], the city being in the middle. This shall be the suburbs of their cities.

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

“The cities which you shall give to the Levites [Descendants of United with], they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee to. Besides them you shall give forty-two cities.

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

All the cities which you shall give to the Levites [Descendants of United with] shall be forty-eight cities together with their suburbs.

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

Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel [God prevails], from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites [Descendants of United with].”

9 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

Adonai spoke to Moses [Drawn out], saying,

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

“Speak to the children of Israel [God prevails], and tell them, ‘When you pass over the Jordan [Descender] into the land of Canaan [Humbled],

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

then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unintentionally by mistake sin ·error· may flee there.

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

The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.

13 וְהֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑נוּ שֵׁשׁ־עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּהְיֶ֥ינָה לָכֶֽם׃

The cities which you shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge.

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

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.

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

For the children of Israel [God prevails], and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unintentionally by mistake sin ·error· may flee there.

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

“‘But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

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

If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

18 אֹ֡ו בִּכְלִ֣י עֵֽץ־יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בֹּ֥ו הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא מֹ֥ות יוּמַ֖ת הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃

Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

19 גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יָמִ֖ית אֶת־הָרֹצֵ֑חַ בְּפִגְעֹו־בֹ֖ו ה֥וּא יְמִיתֶֽנּוּ׃

The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.

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

If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died,

21 אֹ֣ו בְאֵיבָ֞ה הִכָּ֤הוּ בְיָדֹו֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת מֹֽות־יוּמַ֥ת הַמַּכֶּ֖ה רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֗ם יָמִ֛ית אֶת־הָרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּפִגְעֹו־בֹֽו׃

or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.

22 וְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפֹ֑ו אֹו־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה׃

“‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,

23 אֹ֣ו בְכָל־אֶ֜בֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֥וּת בָּהּ֙ בְּלֹ֣א רְאֹ֔ות וַיַּפֵּ֥ל עָלָ֖יו וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהוּא֙ לֹא־אֹויֵ֣ב לֹ֔ו וְלֹ֥א מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֹֽו׃

or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;

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

then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.

25 וְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־הָרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֮ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתֹו֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־עִ֥יר מִקְלָטֹ֖ו אֲשֶׁר־נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־מֹות֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֥ח אֹתֹ֖ו בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

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

“‘But if the man slayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, where he flees,

27 וּמָצָ֤א אֹתֹו֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם מִח֕וּץ לִגְב֖וּל עִ֣יר מִקְלָטֹ֑ו וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין לֹ֖ו דָּֽם׃

and the avenger of blood finds him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the man slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,

28 כִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטֹו֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־מֹ֖ות הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י מֹות֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֹֽו׃

because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the man slayer shall teshuvah ·completely return· into the land of his possession.

29 וְהָי֨וּ אֵ֧לֶּה לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹושְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

“‘These things shall be for a statute and judgement to you throughout all your generations in all your dwellings.

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

“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

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

“‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.

32 וְלֹא־תִקְח֣וּ כֹ֔פֶר לָנ֖וּס אֶל־עִ֣יר מִקְלָטֹ֑ו לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַד־מֹ֖ות הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

“‘You shall take no ransom for him who is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

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

“‘So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.

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

You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the middle of which I dwell; for I, Adonai, dwell in the middle of the children of Israel [God prevails].’”