Now Moses had assigned land to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land to the Levites.

When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land.

These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.