The Forty-Two & Six Cities for the Levites

As Israel takes possession of the land on both sides of the Jordan River they will receive many cities that the various nations of the Gentiles had built. Of these cities they are to give to the Levites a total of 48 cities. Of these 48 cities six that shall be designated cities of refuge, places to which them that were involved in the accidental death of another may flee from the avenger of blood. The purpose for these cities was to prevent the land from being polluted by shedding innocent blood.