Numbers 35:13

13 The cities that you designate shall be six cities of refuge for you:

Numbers 35:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:13

And of these cities which ye shall give
Of the forty eight cities they were to give to the Levites, ( Numbers 35:7 ) ,

six cities shall ye have for refuge;
which, I think, makes it clear, that not all the forty eight cities were for refuge, only six of them.

Numbers 35:13 In-Context

11 then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, so that a slayer who kills a person without intent may flee there.

12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, so that the slayer may not die until there is a trial before the congregation.

13 The cities that you designate shall be six cities of refuge for you:

14 you shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.

15 These six cities shall serve as refuge for the Israelites, for the resident or transient alien among them, so that anyone who kills a person without intent may flee there.