Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;
Parallel translations
- KJV Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
- BSB Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east
- NKJV Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun,
- NASB Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,
- NLT Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses sets apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan. He provides justice and mercy for the manslayer.
Overview
Turning from exhortation to action, Moses designates cities of refuge on the eastern side of the Jordan. This shows the covenant's concern for justice tempered with mercy, protecting the accidental killer. The cities of refuge picture the refuge believers find in Christ, to whom they flee for safety from judgment (Hebrews 6:18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Num 35:6“The cities which you shall give to the Levites, 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.
- Num 35:14–15You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.
- Josh 20:2–9“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 4:41 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.