5 You will measure out two thousand cubits outside the city along the east side, two thousand cubits along the south side, two thousand cubits along the west side, and two thousand cubits along the north side, with the city lying in the center. These will be the pasture lands of their cities.
6 Now these are the cities you will give to the Levites: the six cities of asylum which you must establish for the homicide to run to, and in addition forty-two other cities—
7 a total of forty-eight cities with their pasture lands which you will assign to the Levites.
8 In assigning the cities from what the Israelites possess, take more from a larger group and fewer from a smaller one, so that each will cede cities to the Levites in proportion to the heritage which it receives.
9 The Lord spoke to Moses:
10 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you go across the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11 select for yourselves cities to serve as cities of asylum, where a homicide who has killed someone inadvertently may flee.