Joshua 20:7

7 The following cities were designated as cities of refuge: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (that is, 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 relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility.

6 But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.”

7 The following cities were designated as cities of refuge: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah.

8 On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated: Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh.

9 These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly.