Joshua 20:7
in Joshua 20So they set apart Kedesh in 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah.
KJV
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath–arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
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This verse in Joshua 20
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThey appointed Kedesh in Galilee - 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. In the concluding note on Num 35:33 it has been stated that these cities were a type of our blessed Lord, and that the apostle refers to them as such, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:
This site's exposition
they set apart Kedesh in Galilee
on Joshua 20:7-9
Three cities stand west of the Jordan and three east, spaced north, middle and south, as Deuteronomy 19:3 asked when it divided the land into three regions. All six appear again in chapter 21 as Levite towns, and Moses had already set apart the eastern three, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan, at Deuteronomy 4:41-43. Verse 9 opens all six to foreigners on the Israelite's terms, as Numbers 35:15 had said.
The record, by era
The Reformation1 voice
And they appointed Kedesh, etc The Hebrew word Kedesh here used, signifies also to fit and consecrate. Accordingly, I interpret, that cities were selected according as common use required.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
And they appointed - Concerning these cities note, 1. 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.
And this remedial law was a figure of good things to come. 1 The L ORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:53w-of-68
); and upon occasion of the mention of this is repeated the nomination of the other three in the lot of the other two tribes and a half, which was made by Moses ( Deut. iv. 43 ), but (as bishop Patrick thinks) they had not the privilege till now. They are said to sanctify these cities, that is the original word for appointed,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And they appointed - Concerning these cities note, 1. 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.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali,....
If they were sanctuaries, it was proper to say they were sanctified. Christ, our refuge, was sanctified by his Father; nay, for our sakes he sanctified himself, John xvii.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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 Nu 35:11; At the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Heb 6:18).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Until he stands, etc. for judgement. If he is acquited from exile, he is discharged. If he is sentanced to exile, he is returned to the city of his refuge, and he must reside there until the death of the Kohein-godol.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And on the other side of the Jordan, from Yericho eastward. [These cities were set aside] during the days of Moshe, as it is said, “Betzer in the wilderness.” 1 Devorim:43.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּקְדִּ֜שׁוּ | vaiyakdishu | and they set apart | H6942 → | 171 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| קֶ֤דֶשׁ | kedesh | Kedesh | H6943 → | 12 times |
| בַּגָּלִיל֙ | bagalil | in <the> Galilee | H1551 → | |
| בְּהַ֣ר | behar | in [the] hill country of | H2022 → | 546 times |
| נַפְתָּלִ֔י | naftali | Naphtali | H5321 → | 51 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| שְׁכֶ֖ם | shekhem | Shechem | H7927 → | 63 times |
| בְּהַ֣ר | behar | in [the] hill country of | H2022 → | 546 times |
| אֶפְרָ֑יִם | ʾefrayim | Ephraim | H669 → | 180 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| קִרְיַ֥ת | kiryat | Kiriath | H7153 → | 18 times |
| אַרְבַּ֛ע | ʾarba' | Arba | H7153 → | 18 times |
| הִ֥יא | hi' | that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| חֶבְר֖וֹן | chevron | [is] Hebron | H2275 → | 72 times |
| בְּהַ֥ר | behar | in [the] hill country of | H2022 → | 546 times |
| יְהוּדָֽה׃ | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
וַיַּקְדִּ֜שׁוּand they set apart
vaiyakdishuH6942 →171 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
קֶ֤דֶשׁKedesh
kedeshH6943 →12 times
בַּגָּלִיל֙in <the> Galilee
bagalilH1551 →
בְּהַ֣רin [the] hill country of
beharH2022 →546 times
נַפְתָּלִ֔יNaphtali
naftaliH5321 →51 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
שְׁכֶ֖םShechem
shekhemH7927 →63 times
בְּהַ֣רin [the] hill country of
beharH2022 →546 times
אֶפְרָ֑יִםEphraim
ʾefrayimH669 →180 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
קִרְיַ֥תKiriath
kiryatH7153 →18 times
אַרְבַּ֛עArba
ʾarba'H7153 →18 times
הִ֥יאthat
hi'H1931 →1879 times
חֶבְר֖וֹן[is] Hebron
chevronH2275 →72 times
בְּהַ֥רin [the] hill country of
beharH2022 →546 times
יְהוּדָֽה׃Judah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 21:11They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 6:55
They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands.
- 1 Chronicles 6:55
Through
Joshua 21:32And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
it leads to
- Joshua 19:37
Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 6:76
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
- Joshua 19:37
Through
Joshua 21:13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,
it leads to
- Joshua 15:42
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
- Joshua 15:54
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, along with their villages.
- Joshua 10:29
Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
- Joshua 15:42
Through
1 Chronicles 6:76And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
it leads to
- Joshua 21:32
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
- Joshua 21:32
Through
Luke 1:39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
it leads to
- Luke 1:65
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
- Luke 1:65
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Joshua
Who and where
4 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line to Christ (…
- PlaceJudeaEphraimThe town near the wilderness where Jesus withdrew with His disciples before the last Passover (John 11:54).
- PlaceCentral hill countryShechemThe city between Ebal and Gerizim where Abram built his first altar in the land, where Joshua set the people to choose whom they w…
- PlaceJudean hill countryHebronThe city of the patriarchs, where Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah, Caleb took his inheritance, and David reigned seven years…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.