New International Version begins a new section here (labeling it “Cities of Refuge”), which we do not recommend. It is better to begin a new one at verse 9 (see the introductory comments on this chapter).
The cities which you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge …: Revised Standard Version presents an awkward beginning to verse 6. NET Bible begins more naturally with “Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge….” The six cities of refuge are referred to again in verses 9-34. They were among the total of 48 cities given to the Levites. These cities protected unintentional killers who fled to them (away from the avengers), but these people were in a kind of exile within the cities, unable to return to their homes, until the death of the High Priest (so Olson, page 190). Cities of refuge may be rendered “asylum cities” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Die Bibel: Einheitsübersetzung der Heiligen Schrift), “Safe Towns” (Contemporary English Version), “cities of protection,” or “towns for fleeing to” (Chewa). The Hebrew term for refuge comes from a root meaning “draw/take in” (qalat).
Where you shall permit the manslayer to flee: The Hebrew word for manslayer refers to a person who has killed somebody regardless of intent (so Plaut, page 1124). A number of translations include the idea of killing someone “accidentally” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Nueva Traducción Viviente, La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual) or “unintentionally” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Bijbel in Gewone Taal) in view of verse 11. A rendering such as “murderer” (a person who has killed someone intentionally) should be avoided. In some languages the manslayer is better rendered as a plural expression (for example, “those who kill accidentally”) to avoid the wrong suggestion that the text is referring to one specific, known individual. Flee may be rendered “flee for safety” (New Living Translation) or “run for protection” (Contemporary English Version).
And in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities may be translated “Also give the Levites forty-two other towns” (similarly New International Readers Version).
All the cities which you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasture lands: All the cities may be rendered “the cities all together” (Chewa) for languages that do not have an indigenous word for “total.” For pasture lands, see verse 2.
Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .