Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageTo the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for the manslayer—Libnah with its pasturelands,
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GTo the descendants of Aharon the priest they gave Hevron with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for the manslayer—Livnah with its pasturelands,
KJV
King James VersionThus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
BSB
Berean Standard BibleSo to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,
Footnotes
The *ir miklat* (עִיר מִקְלָט, 'city of refuge') provided asylum for one who killed unintentionally, shielding them from blood-avengers until the community could determine intent (Num. 35; Josh. 20). That several cities of refuge are simultaneously Levitical priestly cities is richly layered: the accidental killer finds sanctuary within the very community whose entire vocation is intercession and mediation before YHWH. The innocent who flees is received by priests—mercy institutionalised in stone and pastureland. Typologically, the cities of refuge foreshadow Messiah as the ultimate refuge for those fleeing condemnation. Both FOG and FOG Message render the term directly, as the Hebrew is sufficiently clear.
