Shoftim 19:02 · unit 1

TT #192 · Parashas Shoftim · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 19:02

The Complete Passuk

שָׁל֥וֹשׁ עָרִ֖ים תַּבְדִּ֣יל לָ֑ךְ בְּת֣וֹךְ אַרְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃

You shall set aside three cities for yourself in the midst of your land that the Eternal your God is giving you to possess.

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 180 / Makkos.

TT lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים תַּבְדִּיל.

Core Text

שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים תַּבְדִּיל לָךְ – בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן.

English: ‘You shall set aside three cities for yourself’ – in the land of Canaan.

On the daf / in context: The initial three cities of refuge are in the western side of the Jordan.

Derash on the location (Sifrei / Bavli) — the verse establishes the first set of cities of refuge in the Land proper.

Three cities of refuge must be designated in the Land of Canaan for the accidental killer.