Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
Thou shalt prepare thee a way. The roads leading to them were to be kept in good condition, and the brooks or rivers to be spanned by good bridges; the width of the roads was to be 32 cubits; and at all the cross-roads sign-posts were to be erected with the words, Mekeleth, Mekeleth-`refuge, refuge,' painted on them.
Divide the coasts of thy land ... into three parts - the whole extent of the country from the south to the north. The three cities on each side of Jordan were opposite to each other "as two rows of vines in a vineyard" (see the notes at Joshua 20:7-8).