'Refuge' in the Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities [of refuge] beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun (eastward),
[He does this] lest the avenger of blood might pursue after the killer, because {he is hot with anger} and he overtakes him, because it is a long distance [to the city of refuge], and [so] {he kills him}, but {he did not deserve a death sentence}, because he [was] not hating him {before}.
Therefore, I command you, saying, ‘You shall set aside three cities [of refuge] for yourself.’
He will say: “Where are their gods,the ‘rock’ they found refuge in?
who ate the best of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge!
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.