vine promise, to pass over Jordan, and overcome those our
enemies which God had shown them, and so obtain their land. But these
tribes, when they saw that Moses was angry with them, and when they
could not deny but he had a just cause to be displeased at their
petition, made an apology for themselves; and said, that it was not on
account of their fear of dangers, nor on account of their laziness, that
they made this request to him, but that they might leave the prey they
had gotten in places of safety, and thereby might be more expedite, and
ready to undergo difficulties, and to fight battles. They added this
also, that when they had built cities, wherein they might preserve their
children, and wives, and possessions, if he would bestow them upon
them, they would go along with the rest of the army. Hereupon Moses was
pleased with what they said; so he called for Eleazar the high priest,
and Joshua, and the chief of the tribes, and permitted these tribes to
possess the land of the Amorites; but upon this condition, that they
should join with their kinsmen in the war until all things were settled.
Upon which condition they took possession of the country, and built them
strong cities, and put into them their children and their wives, and
whatsoever else they had that might be an impediment to the labors of
their future marches.

4. Moses also now built those ten cities which were to be of the number
of the forty-eight [for the Levites;]; three of which he allotted to
those that slew any person involuntarily, and fled to them; and he
assigned the same time for their banishment with that of the life of
that high priest under whom the slaughter and flight happened; after
which death of the high priest he permitted the slayer to return home.
During the time of his exile, the relations of him that was slain may,
by this law, kill the manslayer, if they caught him without the bounds
of the city to which he fled, though this permission was not granted to
any other person. Now the cities which were set apart for this flight
were these: Bezer, at the borders of Arabia; Ramoth, of the land of
Gilead; and Golan, in the land of Bashan. There were to be also, by
Moses's command, three other cities allotted for the habitation of these
fugitives out of the cities of the Levites, but not till after they
should be in possession of the land of Canaan.

5. At this time the chief men of the tribe of Manasseh came to Moses,
and informed him t