Joshua 20:7

7 So, on the west side of the Jordan they set aside Kedesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.

Joshua 20:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:7

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali
Of which see ( 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, ( Genesis 12:6 ) ; and Shechem from a prince of that name that possessed it, ( Genesis 34:2 ) ; it fell to the lot of the tribe of Ephraim; its name in the New Testament is Sychar, ( 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, ( Luke 1:39 Luke 1:65 ) ; of which see ( Joshua 14:15 ) ( Joshua 15:54 ) . There seems to be a difficulty here, since this city was before given to Caleb, ( Joshua 14:13 Joshua 14:14 ) ; and yet afterwards given to the Levites, and appointed a city of refuge. The Jews reconcile this by observing, that the city and suburbs were given to the Levites, and fixed for a city of refuge; but the villages and fields, and country around it, and belonging to it, were given to Caleb, ( Joshua 21:12 ) ; and Abarbinel makes no doubt that the children of Judah gave something else to Caleb in lieu of it. As these cities of refuge were typical of Christ, as has been observed on ( Numbers 35:29 ) ; their names are applicable to him. "Kedesh" signifies "holy" or "holiness"; Christ is holy in both his natures, divine and human; and so abundantly qualified to be the Mediator, Saviour, and Redeemer; and is the fountain of holiness to his people, and is made sanctification to them, ( Psalms 16:10 ) ( Hebrews 7:26 ) ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 ) ; and "Shechem" signifies the "shoulder"; and not only the government of the church and people of God is on the shoulder of Christ, but all their sins have been laid upon him, and bore by him; and every particular soul in conversion, every lost sheep, is looked up by him, and taken up and brought home on his shoulder, ( Isaiah 9:6 ) ( 53:6 ) ( Luke 15:4 ) . "Hebron" signifies "fellowship"; in the effectual calling, the saints are called into fellowship with Christ, and their fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ; through him they have access to God, and communion with him now, and shall have uninterrupted communion with him to all eternity, ( 1 Corinthians 1:9 ) ( 1 John 1:3 ) ( Ephesians 2:18 ) ( John 17:24 ) .

Joshua 20:7 In-Context

5 If the one looking for revenge follows you there, the people of the city must not hand you over to that one. They must protect you because you killed the person accidentally and not out of anger.

6 You may stay in the city until you have received a public trial and until the death of the man who is then the High Priest. Then you may go back home to your own town, from which you had run away."

7 So, on the west side of the Jordan they set aside Kedesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.

8 East of the Jordan, on the desert plateau east of Jericho, they chose Bezer in the territory of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the territory of Manasseh.

9 These were the cities of refuge chosen for all the people of Israel and for any foreigner living among them. Any who killed a person accidentally could find protection there from the one looking for revenge; they could not be killed unless they had first received a public trial.