So Amasa went out to call Judah together. But in doing so he took longer than the time that the king had allotted him.

The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities ¹  of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,

They were allotted as cities ¹  of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands,

The following belonged to the rest of Merari’s descendants: ¹  Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono ²  and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.

Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!

and to all the infants, wives, sons, and daughters of the entire assembly listed in the genealogical records, for they faithfully consecrated themselves.

I also discovered that the grain offerings for the Levites had not been provided, and that as a result the Levites and the singers who performed this work had all gone off to their fields.

Since man’s days ¹  are determined, ²  the number of his months is under your control; ³  you have set his limit ⁴  and he cannot pass it.

“How often ¹  is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their ²  misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain ³  to them ⁴  in his anger?

I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. ¹ 

God has spoken in his sanctuary: ¹  “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem, the valley of Succoth I will measure off. ² 

This is your fate, the destiny to which I have appointed you, because you have forgotten me and have trusted in false gods.

This is what the sovereign Lord says: “Here ¹  are the borders ²  you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.) ³ 

The property of the Levites and of the city will be in the middle of that which belongs to the prince. The portion between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin will be for the prince.

After ¹  he had destroyed ²  seven nations ³  in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance. ⁴ 

But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ¹  but will confine our boasting ²  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ³  that reaches even as far as you.

Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a perpetual allotted portion ¹  throughout your generations ²  from the gifts of the Lord. Anyone who touches these gifts ³  must be holy.’” ⁴ 

for the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution offering I have taken from the Israelites out of their peace offering sacrifices and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons from the people of Israel as a perpetual allotted portion.’” ¹ 

The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion ¹  and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance.

“And this is yours: the raised offering of their gift, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual ordinance. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.