And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
From the tribe of Naphtali's territory, they gave three cities: Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding pasturelands (which served as a city of refuge for someone who accidentally killed another person), Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands.
This verse describes three specific cities from Naphtali's land that were given to the Levites, including one that served as a safe haven for people who accidentally caused someone's death.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Joshua, after the Israelites had conquered and divided the Promised Land among the twelve tribes, specific cities were allocated to the Levites, who served as priests and did not receive their own tribal inheritance. Among these assignments, cities of refuge like Kedesh in Galilee from the tribe of Naphtali were designated to provide a safe place for individuals who accidentally caused someone's death, shielding them from immediate revenge by family members until a proper trial could occur. This system was based on earlier instructions in the Mosaic Law, emphasizing God's design for orderly justice in a society prone to clan-based retribution.
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