The Wilderness Years

For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance.

These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

Then the LORD said to Moses,

“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.

Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;

Shemuel son of Ammihud from the tribe of Simeon;

Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;

Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan;

Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim;

Eli-zaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar;

Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;

and Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:

“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.

The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.

The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side.

You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.

Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.

The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands.

The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”

Then the LORD said to Moses,