Joshua 20:8 And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

◄ Joshua 20:8 ►

New International Version
East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh.

New Living Translation
On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated: Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh.

English Standard Version
And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

Berean Standard Bible
And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

King James Bible
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

New King James Version
And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

New American Standard Bible
And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

NASB 1995
Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

NASB 1977
And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

Amplified Bible
Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

Christian Standard Bible
Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer on the wilderness plateau from Reuben’s tribe, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad’s tribe, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh’s tribe.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer on the wilderness plateau from Reuben’s tribe, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad’s tribe, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh’s tribe.

American Standard Version
And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Contemporary English Version
The Israelites had already decided on the following three towns east of the Jordan River: Bezer in the desert flatlands of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, which was a town that belonged to Gad, and Golan in Bashan, which belonged to Manasseh.

English Revised Version
And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Bezer on the desert plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh were chosen as cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho.

Good News Translation
East of the Jordan, on the desert plateau east of Jericho, they chose Bezer in the territory of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the territory of Manasseh.

International Standard Version
East of Jericho beyond the Jordan River, they reserved Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

Majority Standard Bible
And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

NET Bible
Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh.

New Heart English Bible
Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer on the wilderness plateau out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And on the other side of Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

World English Bible
Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and beyond the Jordan, [at] Jericho eastward, they have given Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain, out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Young's Literal Translation
and beyond the Jordan, at Jericho eastward, they have given Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain, out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Smith's Literal Translation
And from beyond Jordan of Jericho from the sunrising, they gave Bezer in the desert in the plain from the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth, in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And beyond the Jordan to the east of Jericho, they appointed Bosor, which is upon the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Galaad of the tribe of Cad, and Gaulon in Basan of the tribe of Manasses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And beyond the Jordan, opposite the eastern side of Jericho, they appointed Bezer, which is situated on the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan of the tribe of Manasseh.

New American Bible
And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh.

New Revised Standard Version
And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And on the other side of the Jordan, east of Jericho, they assigned Bozer in the wilderness, which is situated upon the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Mathnin, from the tribe of Manasseh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And at the crossing of Jordan of Yerikho from the East they gave Butsar in the wilderness that sits in the plain from the tribe of Rubil, and Ramath Gelad from the tribe of Gad, and Gulan that is in Mathnin, of the tribe of Menasheh

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the table-land out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And beyond Jordan he appointed Bosor in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Ruben, and Aremoth in Galaad out of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in the country of Basan out of the tribe of Manasse.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Six Cities of Refuge
…7So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Numbers 35:14
Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.

Deuteronomy 4:41-43
Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east / to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: / Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Deuteronomy 19:2-9
then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. / Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: ...

Exodus 21:13
If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Numbers 35:6
Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.

Numbers 35:11-12
designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. / You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

Numbers 35:22-25
But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, / or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, / then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. ...

1 Chronicles 6:78-80
From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah, / Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands. / And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,

Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Romans 10:13
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 4:6
a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.

Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Treasury of Scripture

And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Bezer

Joshua 21:36
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,

Deuteronomy 4:43
Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

1 Chronicles 6:78
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,

Ramoth

Joshua 21:38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

1 Kings 22:3,4,6
And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? …

1 Chronicles 6:80
And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

Golan

Joshua 21:27
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

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Appointed Assigned Bashan Bezer Desert East Eastward Jericho Jordan Manasseh Manas'seh Plain Plateau Ramoth Reuben Selection Side Tableland Table-Land Tribe Waste Wilderness

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Appointed Assigned Bashan Bezer Desert East Eastward Jericho Jordan Manasseh Manas'seh Plain Plateau Ramoth Reuben Selection Side Tableland Table-Land Tribe Waste Wilderness

Joshua 20

1. God commands
7. and the children of Israel appoint the six cities of refuge

Berean Study Bible

And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho
This phrase situates the geographical context of the cities of refuge. The "Jordan" refers to the Jordan River, a significant geographical and spiritual landmark for the Israelites. Crossing the Jordan symbolized entering into the Promised Land, a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. "East of Jericho" indicates the location on the eastern side of the river, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's provision for refuge, even for those not yet fully settled in the land.

they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Reuben
"Bezer" means "fortress" or "stronghold" in Hebrew, symbolizing a place of safety and protection. Located "in the wilderness on the plateau," Bezer was strategically placed to be accessible to those in need of refuge. The "tribe of Reuben" was one of the tribes that settled east of the Jordan, highlighting the unity and shared responsibility among the tribes to provide refuge and justice.

Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad
"Ramoth" means "heights" or "high places," indicating its elevated position, which could serve as a physical and spiritual refuge. "Gilead" was a fertile region known for its balm, a healing ointment, symbolizing the healing and restoration available in these cities of refuge. The "tribe of Gad" was known for its warriors, suggesting that the city was well-protected and secure.

and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh
"Golan" means "circle" or "enclosure," suggesting a place of safety and completeness. "Bashan" was a region known for its rich pastures and strong bulls, symbolizing strength and provision. The "tribe of Manasseh" was one of the half-tribes that settled on both sides of the Jordan, representing the bridging of territories and the extension of God's mercy and justice across boundaries.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - By Jericho eastward. Or, eastward of Jericho. This, of course, only refers to Bezer. The plain. The Mishor, or table land (see Joshua 3:16; Joshua 9:1, and notes). Our version, by its renderings, obscures the beautiful precision with which our historian never fails to hit off the physical geography of the country. Thus, the plain of Bashan, Gilead, and Reuben is always the Mishor; the strip of land between the mountains and the Mediterranean is always the Shephelah; the depression of the Jordan Valley and the country south of the Dead Sea is invariably the Arabah; wide plains shut in between ranges of hills or situated on their slopes are distinguished by the title of Emek; while narrow waterless ravines are known by the name of Ge. We may quote here the emphatic words with which Canon Tristram concludes his 'Land of Israel,' "While on matters of science the inspired writers speak in the ordinary language of their times (the only language which could have been understood), I can bear testimony to the minute truth of innumerable incidental allusions in Holy Writ to the facts of nature, of climate, of geographical position - corroborations of Scripture which, though trifling in themselves, reach to minute details that prove the writers to have lived when and where they are asserted to have lived; which attest their scrupulous accuracy in recording what they saw and observed around them; and which, therefore, must increase our confidence in their veracity, where we cannot have the like means of testing it. I can find no discrepancies between their geographical or physical statements and the evidence of present facts. I can find no standpoint here for the keenest advocate against the full inspiration of the scriptural record. The Holy Land not only elucidates but bears witness to the truth of the Holy Book." Ramoth in Gilead. See Joshua 13:26, where it is called Ramoth Mizpeh; also Joshua 21:38. All these cities of refuge were Levitical cities. It is famous as the headquarters of Jehu's rebellion, in which he clearly had the support of the priestly party (2 Kings 9.). The key to his subsequent conduct is found in this fact. His "zeal for the Lord," displayed so ostentatiously to Jonadab, who we may suppose, as being of the "family of the scribes," to have become identified with the Levites (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:55 with Judges 1:16, and 1 Chronicles 27:32 with Ezra 7:12, Jeremiah 8:8), was simply a stroke of policy, to bind to his interest the sacerdotal party, to whom,with the army, he owed his throne. Just such a policy commended itself to the worldly wisdom of our own Lancastrian princes, and led to the enactment of the infamous statute de heretico comburendo in the fifteenth century. Jehu, we find, was contented with the one vast sacrifice of idolaters, for whom he cared nothing, and gave himself no further trouble to secure purity of worship for his people. The one great value of the geographical and political details in the book of Joshua is that when carefully studied they supply us with the key to many a mystery in the after history of Israel, which, but for their aid, we should scarcely have unravelled.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And beyond
וּמֵעֵ֜בֶר (ū·mê·‘ê·ḇer)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5676: A region across, on the opposite side

the Jordan,
לְיַרְדֵּ֤ן (lə·yar·dên)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

east
מִזְרָ֔חָה (miz·rā·ḥāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4217: Place of sunrise, the east

of Jericho,
יְרִיחוֹ֙ (yə·rî·ḥōw)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3405: Jericho -- a city in the Jordan Valley captured by Joshua

they designated
נָתְנ֞וּ (nā·ṯə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Bezer
בֶּ֧צֶר (be·ṣer)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1221: Bezer -- 'fortress', a city in Reuben, also a descendant of Asher

on the wilderness
בַּמִּדְבָּ֛ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

plateau
בַּמִּישֹׁ֖ר (bam·mî·šōr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4334: A level, a plain, as a, straightness, justice

from the tribe
מִמַּטֵּ֣ה (mim·maṭ·ṭêh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

of Reuben,
רְאוּבֵ֑ן (rə·’ū·ḇên)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7205: Reuben -- 'behold a son!' oldest son of Jacob, also his desc

Ramoth
רָאמֹ֤ת (rā·mōṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7216: Ramoth -- 'heights', the name of several cities in Israel

in Gilead
בַּגִּלְעָד֙ (bag·gil·‘āḏ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites

from the tribe
מִמַּטֵּה־ (mim·maṭ·ṭêh-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

of Gad,
גָ֔ד (ḡāḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1410: Gad -- a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its territory, also a prophet

and Golan
גּוֹלָ֥ן (gō·w·lān)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1474: Golan -- a city and a region East of the Jordan in Manasseh

in Bashan
בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן (bab·bā·šān)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1316: Bashan -- 'smooth', a region East of the Jordan

from the tribe
מִמַּטֵּ֥ה (mim·maṭ·ṭêh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

of Manasseh.
מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

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OT History: Joshua 20:8 Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward they (Josh. Jos)