To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah with the cities of refuge: Hebron and Libnah with its outlands, Jattir and Eshtemoa with their outlands,
Among the cities which you will give to the Levites there will be six cities of refuge, which you will appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee there, and to them you will add forty-two cities.
These were the cities designated for all the Israelites and resident foreigners living among them, to which anyone who killed someone inadvertently could flee and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.