“the cities of refuge.” “Refuge” has the meaning of “shelter,” and in modern Hebrew, it is used of shelters and bomb shelters. Every one of the cities of refuge is a Levitical city, so the elders of the city (Josh. 20:4) are all Levites.

“of which I spoke to you by Moses.” Moses spoke about the cities of refuge (Num. 35:6; 9-34; Deut. 19:1-13). The literal is “by the hand of Moses.” Yahweh spoke to Israel “by (“by way of” or “through”) Moses.”