John Calvin Commentary Joshua 20:7

"And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah." — Joshua 20:7 (ASV)

And they appointed Kedesh, etc. The Hebrew word Kedesh, used here, also signifies to fit and consecrate. Accordingly, I interpret that cities were selected as common use required. From this, it is inferred that matters were well arranged so that private interests would yield to the public interest.

Moreover, we will see in the next chapter that Kiriath-arba, which was afterwards called Hebron, was transferred to the Levites, though it had previously been Caleb's property. From this appeared the rare, indeed, the incomparable moderation of this aged saint, who readily gave up to others both the city and its suburbs, which he had justly claimed as his right, the moment the lot showed that this was pleasing to God.

It was necessary to refer briefly to this change, because the Lord was pleased that asylums should be found only in the Levitical cities, so that their innocence might be defended with greater fidelity and authority.