Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces, and Judah has built many fortified cities. But I will send fire on their cities; it will consume their royal citadels.

Moreover, ¹  the open field areas of their cities ²  must not be sold, because that is their perpetual possession.

I will lay your cities waste ¹  and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will refuse to smell your soothing aromas.

So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said ¹  you would do.”

Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead,

So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities – Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

Joshua and the Israelites almost totally wiped them out, but some survivors did escape to the fortified cities. ¹ 

and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border.

Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory ¹  as far as Aroer near ²  Rabbah.

The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns. ¹ 

But the men ¹  of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed ²  to remain in those areas.

Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; ¹  in all they had twelve cities and their towns. ² 

This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun ¹  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns.

This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar ¹  by its clans, including the cities and their towns.

This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher ¹  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Yiron, ¹  Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had ²  nineteen cities and their towns.

This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali ¹  by its clans, including the cities and their towns.

This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan ¹  by its clans, including these cities and their towns.

Merari’s descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.