And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali,.... Of which see Jos 19:37; the appointment of this and the two cities following was made by the children of Israel at this time:and Shechem in Mount Ephraim; called Sichem, Ge 12:6; and Shechem from a prince of that name that possessed it, Ge 34:2; it fell to the lot of the tribe of Ephraim; its name in the New Testament is Sychar, Joh 4:5; and it is now called Neapolis, or Naplouse:and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah; it stood in the hill country of Judea, Lu 1:39; of which see Jos 14:15.
There seems to be a difficulty here, since this city was before given to Caleb, Jos 14:13; and yet afterwards given to the Levites, and appointed a city of refuge. The Jews reconcile this by observing, that the city and suburbs were given to the Levites, and fixed for a city of refuge; but the villages and fields, and country around it, and belonging to it, were given to Caleb, Jos 21:12; and Abarbinel makes no doubt that the children of Judah gave something else to Caleb in lieu of it.
As these cities of refuge were typical of Christ, as has been observed on Nu 35:29; their names are applicable to him. "Kedesh" signifies "holy" or "holiness"; Christ is holy in both his natures, divine and human; and so abundantly qualified to be the Mediator, Saviour, and Redeemer; and is the fountain of holiness to his people, and is made sanctification to them, Ps 16:10 1Co 1:30; and "Shechem" signifies the "shoulder"; and not only the government of the church and people of God is on the shoulder of Christ, but all their sins have been laid upon him, and bore by him; and every particular soul in conversion, every lost sheep, is looked up by him, and taken up and brought home on his shoulder, Isa 9:6 Lu 15:4.