Twelve cities are assigned to the clan of Merari.

Four cities are in Zebulun (verses 34-35).In verse 35, instead of the Masoretic text Dimnah, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “Rimmonah” (as in 19.13); New English Bible Bible de Jérusalem Jerusalem Bible prefer “Rimmon.”

Four cities are in Reuben (verses 36-37). The first part of verse 36 in the Masoretic text is “and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its pasture lands” (see Revised Standard Version). The Septuagint (see also 1 Chr. 6.78) has “and on the east side of the Jordan, opposite Jericho, from the tribe of Reuben, one of the cities of refuge, Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau, with its pasture lands” (the passages in italics are not in the Masoretic text). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, rating its decision highly probable, takes this to be original and recommends its adoption (so Soggin; Bible de Jérusalem, New English Bible, New American Bible, and Jerusalem Bible include part of the Septuagint additional matter).

Four cities are in Gad (verses 38-39), one of which, Ramoth, was a city of refuge (see 20.9).

The translation of verses 34-39 should follow the pattern of verses 17-18, and the translation of verse 40 should follow that of verse 19. Although the phrase with their pasture lands is not found in verse 40, it may be introduced there by way of summary and omitted from its occurrences in the previous verses.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .