Cities of Refuge East
Deuteronomy 4:41-43
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Deu.4.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- יבדיל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שלש: NUM,card,f,sg
- ערים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בעבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מזרחה: ADV,dir
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 35:6 (verbal): Numbers 35 contains the establishment and legal provisions for the cities of refuge—the same institution referenced in Deut 4:41.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (structural): Earlier in Deuteronomy the law concerning cities of refuge and requirements for their appointment is given; 4:41 repeats the designation of three such cities east of the Jordan.
- Joshua 20:7-9 (structural): Joshua records the formal designation of the six cities of refuge and specifically lists the three located east of the Jordan (Bezer, Ramoth, Golan), paralleling Moses’ appointment.
- Joshua 21:13 (thematic): Joshua 21 lists Levitical towns and again identifies the eastern refuge-cities (Golan, Ramoth, Bezer), tying the territorial assignments to the refuge system described in Deut 4:41.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan, to the east, toward the sunrise;
- Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan, eastward toward the sunrise.
Deu.4.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לנס: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמה: ADV
- רוצח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ירצח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- בבלי: PREP
- דעת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- שנא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מתמול: ADV
- שלשום: ADV
- ונס: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- מן: PREP
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- האל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וחי: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (structural): The same Deuteronomic legislation on cities of refuge and the manslayer; repeats the procedures for fleeing, examination, and protection when the killing was not premeditated (cf. ‘without hatred’).
- Numbers 35:9-15 (verbal): Establishes the cities of refuge and uses parallel legal language (e.g., ‘whoso killeth any person unawares’); provides the institutional setting for the manslayer’s flight mentioned in Deut 4:42.
- Numbers 35:25 (thematic): Addresses the adjudication between the slayer and the avenger of blood and the protection of the manslayer until a terminal event (the death of the priest), echoing the asylum principle in Deut 4:42.
- Joshua 20:2-9 (quotation): Joshua implements the command by designating the cities of refuge and restates the law (including the manslayer’s right to flee and to remain in the city until the priest’s death), directly paralleling Deut 4:42.
Alternative generated candidates
- that there might be a refuge there for the slayer who had killed his neighbor unwittingly, without hatred—who had not been his enemy from yesterday or the day before—and who fled to one of these cities and lived.
- To be a refuge there for the manslayer who kills his neighbor unintentionally and who had not hated him previously; he may flee to one of these cities and live.
Deu.4.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- את: PRT,acc
- בצר: PREP
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- המישר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לראובני: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- ראמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בגלעד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לגדי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- גולן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בבשן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למנשי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 20:8 (quotation): Gives the same wording assigning Bezer in the wilderness to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead to the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan to the Manassites — a near-verbatim parallel.
- Numbers 35:6,9–12 (structural): Outlines the institution of six cities of refuge among the Levitical towns and the legal framework for their designation, of which the cities named in Deut 4:43 are specific instances.
- Deuteronomy 19:1–13 (thematic): Earlier Deuteronomic legislation explaining the purpose and rules for cities of refuge (protection for unintentional manslayers), providing the legal and thematic background for the specific locations named in 4:43.
- Joshua 21:36–40 (verbal): Lists Levitical cities and specifically records Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan among the towns given to the Levites — overlapping the same place-names and territorial assignments as Deut 4:43.
Alternative generated candidates
- They are Bezer in the wilderness, in the plateau for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
- Bezer in the wilderness, in the territory of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan, eastward toward the sunrise.
That the slayer who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without prior hatred of him—had not hated him yesterday or the day before—may flee there; and if he flees to one of these cities, he shall live.
Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.