Joshua 20:7

“And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali, etc.] Of which (see <061937>Joshua 19:37); the appointment of this and the two cities following was made by the children of Israel at this time: and Shechem in Mount Ephraim; called Sichem, (<011206>Genesis 12:6); and Shechem from a prince of that name that possessed it, (<013402>Genesis 34:2); it fell to the lot of the tribe of Ephraim; its name in the New Testament is Sychar, (<430405>John 4:5); and it is now called Neapolis, or Naplouse: and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah; it stood in the hill country of Judea, (<420139>Luke 1:39,65); of which (see <061415>Joshua 14:15) (<061554>Joshua 15:54). There seems to…”

“THE ISRAELITES APPOINT BY NAME THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (Jos 20:7-9) they appointed . . . cities--There were six; three on the west, and three on the east, of Jordan. In the first instance, they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see on Num 35:11; Deu 19:2). At the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Heb 6:18). Next: Joshua Chapter 21”

“And they appointed - Concerning these cities note, That they were all upon mountains, that they might be seen at a great distance, and so direct those who fled thither. That they were seated at convenient distance one from another, for the benefit of the several tribes; for Kedesh was in the north, Hebron in the south, and Shechem between them. That they all belonged to the Levites; partly that these causes might be more impartially examined, and justly determined by them who are presumed best able to understand the law of God, and most obliged to follow it and not to be biass'd by any affection or corrupt interest, and partly, that their reputation with the people, and their good counsels,…”

“20:7-9 Joshua designated six cities of refuge: three on the east side of the Jordan, and three on the west. From anywhere in the land, one of these six well-known Levitical cities was no more than two days’ travel away.”

“appointed: Heb. sanctified Kedesh: Kedesh, called Cadesa, or Caidesa, by Josephus, was situated in Upper Galilee, twenty miles south-east from Tyre, according to Eusebius. The cities of refuge were distributed through the land at proper distances from each other, that they might be convenient to every part of the land; and it is said they were situated on eminences, that they might be easily seen at a distance; the roads leading to them being broad, even, and always kept in good repair. Kedesh and Hebron were at the two extremities of the land, the former being in Galilee, and the latter in Judah, both in mountainous districts, and Shechem was in mount Ephraim, nearly in the centre. Bezer…”

“List of the cites: Levitical cities were chosen, for the reasons explained in the Commentary on the Pentateuch. Jos 20:7 In the land on this side (viz., Canaan) they sanctified the following cities. In the north, Kedesh (see at Jos 12:22), in Galil, on the mountains of Naphtali. Galil (a circle) was a district in the northern part of the subsequent province of Galilee; it is called הגּוים גּליל, circle of the heathen, in Isa 9:1, because an unusually large number of heathen or Gentiles were living there. In the centre of the land, Shechem, upon the mountains of Ephraim (see at Jos 17:7). And in the south, Kirjath-arba, i.e., Hebron, upon the mountains of Judah (see at Jos 10:3). Jos 20:8-9…”