וַיִּגְּשׁוּ רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הַלְוִיִּם אֶל אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן וְאֶל רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הַמַּטּוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

The heads of the patrilineal houses of the Levites approached Elazar the priest, and Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the patrilineal houses of the tribes of the children of Israel;

וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֲלֵיהֶם בְּשִׁלֹה בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לֵאמֹר ה' צִוָּה בְיַד מֹשֶׁה לָתֶת לָנוּ עָרִים לָשָׁבֶת ומִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן לִבְהֶמְתֵּנוּ

they, the representatives of the Levites, spoke to them, the leaders of the people, in Shilo, in the land of Canaan, saying: Although we are not entitled to a share in the land, the Lord commanded at the hand of Moses to give us cities in which to settle, and their perimeter fields for our animals. We therefore request that this command be fulfilled at this time.

וַיִּתְּנוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַלְוִיִּם מִנַּחֲלָתָם אֶל פִּי ה' אֶת הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאֶת מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן

The children of Israel gave these cities and their perimeter fields to the Levites from their inheritance, according to the directive of the Lord.

וַיֵּצֵא הַגּוֹרָל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי וַיְהִי לִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן מִן הַלְוִיִּם מִמַּטֵּה יְהוּדָה וּמִמַּטֵּה הַשִּׁמְעֹנִי וּמִמַּטֵּה בִנְיָמִן בַּגּוֹרָל עָרִים שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה

The lot came out for the families of the Kehatites, one of the three major Levite families: for the children of Aaron the priest, of the Levites: Portions from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of the Simeonites, and from the tribe of Benjamin by lot, thirteen cities;

וְלִבְנֵי קְהָת הַנּוֹתָרִים מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹת מַטֵּה אֶפְרַיִם וּמִמַּטֵּה דָן וּמֵחֲצִי מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה בַּגּוֹרָל עָרִים עָשֶׂר

for the remaining children of Kehat, those who were not the children of Aaron: Portions from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan, and from half the tribe of Manasseh that received territory in the land of Canaan, by lot, a total of ten cities.

וְלִבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן מִמִּשְׁפְּחוֹת מַטֵּה יִשָּׂשכָר וּמִמַּטֵּה אָשֵׁר וּמִמַּטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי וּמֵחֲצִי מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה בַבָּשָׁן בַּגּוֹרָל עָרִים שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה

For the children of Gershon, the second major family of the Levites: Portions from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from half the tribe of Manasseh that was in the Bashan, east of the Jordan, by lot, a total of thirteen cities.

לִבְנֵי מְרָרִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם מִמַּטֵּה רְאוּבֵן וּמִמַּטֵּה גָד וּמִמַּטֵּה זְבוּלֻן עָרִים שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה

The children of Merari, the third major family of the Levites, received according to their families: Portions from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

וַיִּתְּנוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַלְוִיִּם אֶת הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאֶת מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה בַּגּוֹרָל

The children of Israel gave the Levites these cities with their perimeter fields as the Lord had commanded at the hand of Moses, by the determination of the lot.

וַיִּתְּנוּ מִמַּטֵּה בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה וּמִמַּטֵּה בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן אֵת הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא אֶתְהֶן בְּשֵׁם

The general description of the division of the Levite families to the territory of various tribes is followed by a detailed list of the specific cities allocated for this purpose: They gave from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities that will be mentioned by name.

וַיְהִי לִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן מִמִּשְׁפְּחוֹת הַקְּהָתִי מִבְּנֵי לֵוִי כִּי לָהֶם הָיָה הַגּוֹרָל רִיאשֹׁנָה

They were for the children of Aaron, from the families of the Kehatites from the children of Levi, as theirs was the first lot. Since they were the most distinguished Levites, the lot for their cities was cast first.

וַיִּתְּנוּ לָהֶם אֶת קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע אֲבִי הָעֲנוֹק הִיא חֶבְרוֹן בְּהַר יְהוּדָה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ סְבִיבֹתֶיהָ

They gave them Kiryat Arba, literally, “city of Arba,” father of the giant (see 15:13), which is Hebron, in the highlands of Judah, and its perimeter fields around it. The priests, children of Aaron, received the city of Hebron;

וְאֶת שְׂדֵה הָעִיר וְאֶת חֲצֵרֶיהָ נָתְנוּ לְכָלֵב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּה בַּאֲחֻזָּתוֹ

but the fields of the city, the fields in Hebron, and its surrounding settled areas, they gave to Caleb son of Yefuneh, as his portion, as stated above (14:12–15). The portion of Hebron designated as a refuge for unwitting murderers and as living quarters for priests was only the city itself. The fields of the city and the surrounding areas remained in the possession of the family of Caleb.

וְלִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן נָתְנוּ אֶת עִיר מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת חֶבְרוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ ואֶת לִבְנָה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

To the children of Aaron the priest they gave the city of refuge for the murderer, Hebron and its perimeter fields, and in addition to Hebron, they gave Livna and its perimeter fields;

וְאֶת יַתִּר וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת אֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

Yatir and its perimeter fields, and Eshtemoa and its perimeter fields;

וְאֶת חֹלֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת דְּבִר וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

Holon and its perimeter fields, and Devir and its perimeter fields;

וְאֶת עַיִן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת יֻטָּה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים תֵּשַׁע מֵאֵת שְׁנֵי הַשְּׁבָטִים הָאֵלֶּה

Ayin and its perimeter fields, Yuta and its perimeter fields, and the Beit Shemesh located in the territory of Judah and its perimeter fields; a total of nine cities from those two tribes, Judah and Simeon.

וּמִמַּטֵּה בִנְיָמִן אֶת גִּבְעוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת גֶּבַע וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

From the tribe of Benjamin, the cities given to the priests were Givon and its perimeter fields, Geva and its perimeter fields,

אֶת עֲנָתוֹת וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת עַלְמוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Anatot, where the prophet Jeremiah the priest would one day live, and its perimeter fields, and Almon and its perimeter fields; a total of four cities.

כָּל עָרֵי בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן

The sum of all the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities and their perimeter fields.

וּלְמִשְׁפְּחוֹת בְּנֵי קְהָת הַלְוִיִּם הַנּוֹתָרִים מִבְּנֵי קְהָת וַיְהִי עָרֵי גוֹרָלָם מִמַּטֵּה אֶפְרָיִם

The families of the children of Kehat, the Levites who remained from the children of Kehat, who were not priests, the cities of their lot were from the tribe of Ephraim.

וַיִּתְּנוּ לָהֶם אֶת עִיר מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת שְׁכֶם וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם ואֶת גֶּזֶר וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

They gave them the city of refuge for the murderer, Shekhem, and its perimeter fields, in the highlands of Ephraim, and also the city of Gezer and its perimeter fields. In practice, however, Gezer was not conquered by the Israelites, and the Canaanites continued to reside there (see 16:10);

וְאֶת קִבְצַיִם וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת בֵּית חוֹרֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Kivtzayim and its perimeter fields, and Beit Horon and its perimeter fields; in total, four cities.

וּמִמַּטֵּה דָן אֶת אֶלְתְּקֵא וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת גִּבְּתוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

From the tribe of Dan, the children of Kehat received Eltekeh and its perimeter fields, Gibeton and its perimeter fields,

אֶת אַיָּלוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת גַּת רִמּוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Ayalon and its perimeter fields, Gat Rimon and its perimeter fields; four cities.

וּמִמַּחֲצִית מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה אֶת תַּעְנַךְ וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת גַּת רִמּוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים שְׁתָּיִם

From half the tribe of Manasseh, Taanakh and its perimeter fields, and Gat Rimon and its perimeter fields; two cities.

כָּל עָרִים עֶשֶׂר וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹת בְּנֵי קְהָת הַנּוֹתָרִים

All the cities were ten, and their perimeter fields, for the remaining families of the children of Kehat. As stated above, the cities were given in accordance with their size and the size of the tribe in whose portion they were situated.

וְלִבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹת הַלְוִיִּם מֵחֲצִי מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה אֶת עִיר מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת גּוֹלָן בַּבָּשָׁן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ ואֶת בְּעֶשְׁתְּרָה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים שְׁתָּיִם

For the children of Gershon, from the families of the Levites: from half the tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge for the murderer, Golan in the Bashan and its perimeter fields and likewise Be’eshtera and its perimeter fields, two cities.

וּמִמַּטֵּה יִשָּׂשכָר אֶת קִשְׁיוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת דָּבְרַת וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

From the tribe of Issachar: Kishyon and its perimeter fields, Dovrat and its perimeter fields,

אֶת יַרְמוּת וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת עֵין גַּנִּים וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Yarmut and its perimeter fields, Ein Ganim and its perimeter fields; four cities.

וּמִמַּטֵּה אָשֵׁר אֶת מִשְׁאָל וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת עַבְדּוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

From the tribe of Asher: Mishal and its perimeter fields, Avdon and its perimeter fields,

אֶת חֶלְקָת וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת רְחֹב וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Helkat and its perimeter fields and Rehov and its perimeter fields; four cities.

וּמִמַּטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי אֶת עִיר מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת קֶדֶשׁ בַּגָּלִיל וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת חַמֹּת דֹּאר וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת קַרְתָּן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים שָׁלֹשׁ

From the tribe of Naphtali: the city of refuge for the murderer, Kedesh in the Galilee and its perimeter fields, as well as Hamot Dor and its perimeter fields and Kartan and its perimeter fields; three cities.

כָּל עָרֵי הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה עִיר וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן

All the cities of the Gershonite according to their families were thirteen cities and their perimeter fields.

וּלְמִשְׁפְּחוֹת בְּנֵי מְרָרִי הַלְוִיִּם הַנּוֹתָרִים מֵאֵת מַטֵּה זְבוּלֻן אֶת יָקְנְעָם וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת קַרְתָּה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

For the families of the children of Merari, the remaining Levites: from the tribe of Zebulun, Yokne’am and its perimeter fields and Karta and its perimeter fields,

אֶת דִּמְנָה וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת נַהֲלָל וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Dimna and its perimeter fields, Nahalal and its perimeter fields; four cities.

וּמִמַּטֵּה גָד אֶת עִיר מִקְלַט הָרֹצֵחַ אֶת רָמֹת בַּגִּלְעָד וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ וְאֶת מַחֲנַיִם וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ

From the tribe of Gad: the city of refuge for the murderer, Ramot in Gilad and its perimeter fields, and Mahanayim and its perimeter fields,

אֶת חֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ אֶת יַעְזֵר וְאֶת מִגְרָשֶׁהָ כָּל עָרִים אַרְבַּע

Heshbon and its perimeter fields, Yazer and its perimeter fields; all the cities were four.

כָּל הֶעָרִים לִבְנֵי מְרָרִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם הַנּוֹתָרִים מִמִּשְׁפְּחוֹת הַלְוִיִּם וַיְהִי גּוֹרָלָם עָרִים שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה

These are all the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, who remained from the last of the families of the Levites; their lot was twelve cities. The verses above mention only eight cities, four from the tribe of Zebulun and four from Gad. The remaining four are listed in I Chronicles; four cities from Reuben: Betzer, Yahatz, Kedemot, and Mefaat, and their perimeter fields. There are versions of the text that include those cities here.

כֹּל עָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם בְּתוֹךְ אֲחֻזַּת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עָרִים אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶן

The chapter provides an overall summary: All the cities of the Levites within the portion of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities and their perimeter fields.

תִּהְיֶינָה הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה עִיר עִיר וּמִגְרָשֶׁיהָ סְבִיבֹתֶיהָ כֵּן לְכָל הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה

These are the cities, each and every city and their surrounding perimeter fields; so shall it be for all of these cities.

וַיִּתֵּן ה' לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לָתֵת לַאֲבוֹתָם וַיִּרָשׁוּהָ וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בָהּ

The Lord gave to Israel all the land about which He took an oath to give to their forefathers; they took possession of it and settled in it.

וַיָּנַח ה' לָהֶם מִסָּבִיב כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבוֹתָם וְלֹא עָמַד אִישׁ בִּפְנֵיהֶם מִכָּל אֹיְבֵיהֶם אֵת כָּל אֹיְבֵיהֶם נָתַן ה' בְּיָדָם

The Lord granted them respite all around, in accordance with everything about which He took an oath to their forefathers; there was no man from all their enemies who stood against them. None of them were able to withstand Israel, as the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand, although there were places that the tribes themselves neglected to conquer.

לֹא נָפַל דָּבָר מִכֹּל הַדָּבָר הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' אֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הַכֹּל בָּא

Nothing of all the good things that the Lord spoke to the house of Israel was lacking; everything came about.