Cities of refuge were six cities of ancient Palestine. They were set apart as places of refuge for people who had killed other persons either accidentally or in self-defense. They included Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan, on the east side of the Jordan River, and Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron on the west side of the river (Joshua 20). Persons who fled to one of these cities were protected from avengers until a trial could be held. If found not guilty of willful murder, they were allowed to continue living in the city. If declared guilty, they were returned for punishment to the place from which they had fled. See also Hebron .
