1 Os chefes de família dos levitas se aproximaram do sacerdote Eleazar, de Josué, filho de Num, e dos chefes das outras famílias das tribos dos israelitas2 em Siló, na terra de Canaã, e lhes disseram: "O Senhor ordenou por meio de Moisés que vocês nos dessem cidades onde possamos habitar, e pastagens para os nossos animais".3 Por isso, de acordo com a ordem do Senhor, os israelitas deram da sua própria herança as seguintes cidades com suas pastagens aos levitas:4 A sorte saiu primeiro para os coatitas, clã por clã. Os levitas, que eram descendentes do sacerdote Arão, receberam treze cidades das tribos de Judá, de Simeão e de Benjamim.5 Os outros descendentes de Coate receberam dez cidades dos clãs das tribos de Efraim e de Dã, e da metade da tribo de Manassés.6 Os descendentes de Gérson receberam treze cidades dos clãs das tribos de Issacar, de Aser e de Naftali, e da metade da tribo de Manassés estabelecida em Basã.7 Os descendentes de Merari, clã por clã, receberam doze cidades das tribos de Rúben, de Gade e de Zebulom.8 Dessa maneira os israelitas deram aos levitas essas cidades com suas pastagens, como o Senhor tinha ordenado por meio de Moisés.9 Das tribos de Judá e de Simeão, os israelitas deram as seguintes cidades, indicadas nominalmente.10 Foram dadas aos descendentes de Arão que pertenciam aos clãs coatitas dos levitas, pois para eles saiu a primeira sorte:11 Quiriate-Arba, que é Hebrom, com as suas pastagens ao redor, nos montes de Judá. ( Arba era antepassado de Enaque. )12 Mas os campos e os povoados em torno da cidade foram dados a Calebe, filho de Jefoné, como sua propriedade.13 Assim, aos descendentes do sacerdote Arão deram Hebrom, cidade de refúgio para os acusados de homicídio, Libna,14 Jatir, Estemoa,15 Holom, Debir,16 Aim, Jutá e Bete-Semes, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram nove cidades dadas por essas duas tribos.17 Da tribo de Benjamim deram-lhes Gibeom, Geba,18 Anatote e Almom, cada qual com os seus arredores. Eram quatro cidades.19 Todas as cidades dadas aos sacerdotes, descendentes de Arão, foram treze; cada qual com os seus arredores.20 Os outros clãs coatitas dos levitas receberam cidades da tribo de Efraim.21 Nos montes de Efraim receberam Siquém, cidade de refúgio para os acusados de homicídio, Gezer,22 Quibzaim e Bete-Horom, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.23 Também da tribo de Dã receberam Elteque, Gibetom,24 Aijalom e Gate-Rimom, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.25 Da meia tribo de Manassés receberam Taanaque e Gate-Rimom, cada qual com os seus arredores. Eram duas cidades.26 Todas essas dez cidades e seus arredores foram dadas aos outros clãs coatitas.27 Os clãs levitas gersonitas receberam da metade da tribo de Manassés: Golã, em Basã, cidade de refúgio para os acusados de homicídio, e Beesterá, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram duas cidades.28 Receberam da tribo de Issacar: Quisiom, Daberate,29 Jarmute e En-Ganim, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.30 Receberam da tribo de Aser: Misal, Abdom,31 Helcate e Reobe, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.32 Receberam da tribo de Naftali: Quedes, na Galiléia, cidade de refúgio dos acusados de homicídio, Hamote-Dor e Cartã, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram três cidades.33 Todas as cidades dos clãs gersonitas foram treze.34 Os clãs meraritas, o restante dos levitas, receberam as seguintes cidades: Da tribo de Zebulom: Jocneão, Cartá,35 Dimna e Naalal, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.36 Da tribo de Rúben: Bezer, Jaza,37 Quedemote e Mefaate, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades.38 Da tribo de Gade: em Gileade, Ramote, cidade de refúgio dos acusados de homicídio, Maanaim,39 Hesbom e Jazar, cada qual com os seus arredores. Foram quatro cidades ao todo.40 Todas as cidades dadas aos clãs meraritas, que eram o restante dos levitas, foram doze.41 No total, as cidades dos levitas nos territórios dos outros israelitas foram quarenta e oito cidades com os seus arredores.42 Cada uma de todas essas cidades tinha pastagens ao seu redor.43 Assim o Senhor deu aos israelitas toda a terra que tinha prometido sob juramento aos seus antepassados, e eles tomaram posse dela e se estabeleceram ali.44 O Senhor lhes concedeu descanso de todos os lados, como tinha jurado aos seus antepassados. Nenhum dos seus inimigos pode resisti-los, pois o Senhor entregou a todos eles em suas mãos.45 De todas as boas promessas do Senhor à nação de Israel, nenhuma delas falhou; todas se cumpriram.

1 The leaders of the Levite families went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of all the tribes of Israel.2 There at Shiloh in the land of Canaan they said to them: »Jehovah commanded through Moses that we were to be given cities to live in, as well as pasture land around them for our livestock.«3 So in accordance with Jehovah’s command the people of Israel gave the Levites cities and pasturelands out of their own territories.4 The families of the Levite clan of Kohath were the first to be assigned cities. The families who were descended from Aaron the priest were assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.5 The rest of the clan of Kohath was assigned ten cities from the territories of Ephraim, Dan, and West Manasseh.6 The clan of Gershon was assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh in Bashan.7 The families of the clan of Merari were assigned twelve cities from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.8 By drawing lots, the people of Israel assigned these cities and their pasturelands to the Levites, as Jehovah commanded through Moses.9 These are the names of the cities from the territories of Judah and Simeon.10 These were given to the descendants of Aaron who were of the clan of Kohath and who were descended from Levi. Their assignment was the first to be made.11 They were given the city of Arba. Arba was Anak’s father. Arba is now called Hebron. It is in the hill country of Judah, along with the pastureland surrounding it.12 The fields that were in the city and its towns had already been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.13 In addition to Hebron, one of the cities of refuge, the following cities were assigned to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Libnah,14 Jattir, Eshtemoa,15 Holon, Debir,16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, with their pasturelands: nine cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon.17 From the territory of Benjamin they were given four cities: Gibeon, Geba,18 Anathoth, and Almon, with their pasturelands.19 Thirteen cities in all, with pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.20 The other families of the Levite clan of Kohath were assigned some cities from the territory of Ephraim.21 They were given four cities: Shechem and its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, one of the cities of refuge, Gezer,22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, with their pasturelands.23 From the territory of Dan they were given four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon,24 Aijalon, and Gathrimmon, with pasturelands.25 From the territory of West Manasseh they were given two cities: Taanach and Gathrimmon, with pasturelands.26 These families of the clan of Kohath received ten cities in all, with pasturelands.27 Another group of Levites, the clan of Gershon, received from the territory of East Manasseh two cities: Golan in Bashan, one of the cities of refuge, and Beeshterah, with pasturelands.28 From the territory of Issachar they received four cities: Kishion, Daberath,29 Jarmuth, and Engannim, with pasturelands.30 From the territory of Asher they received four cities: Mishal, Abdon,31 Helkath, and Rehob, with pasturelands.32 From the territory of Naphtali they received three cities: Kedesh in Galilee, with pasture lands, one of the cities of refuge, Hammoth-Dor, and Kartan, with pasturelands.33 The families of the clan of Gershon received a total of thirteen cities with pasturelands.34 The rest of the Levites, the clan of Merari, received from the territory of Zebulun four cities: Jokneam, Kartah,35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, with pasturelands.36 From the territory of Reuben they received four cities: Bezer, Jahaz,37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, with pasturelands.38 From the tribe of Gad they received four cities: Ramoth in Gilead, with pasturelands, one of the cities of refuge, Mahanaim,39 Heshbon, and Jazer, with pasturelands.40 The clan of Merari was assigned a total of twelve cities.41 From the land that the people of Israel possessed, a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasturelands around them, was given to the Levites.42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it.43 Jehovah gave to Israel all the land that he had solemnly promised their ancestors he would give them. They took possession of it and settled down there.44 Jehovah granted them peace throughout the land. This is just as he had promised their ancestors. Not one of all their enemies was able to stand against them, because Jehovah gave the Israelites the victory over all their enemies.45 Jehovah kept every one of the promises he made to the people of Israel.