“And he shall dwell in that city until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.”
This verse outlines the conditions for the person who has unintentionally caused the death of another to find refuge in one of the cities of refuge. Let’s break it down to understand its meaning more fully:
- “And he shall dwell in that city until he stand before the congregation for judgment”: Once the person accused of unintentional manslaughter reaches the city of refuge, they are to remain there until they can stand before the congregation for judgment. This indicates that the person must wait for a fair trial to determine their guilt or innocence.
- “And until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days”: The person seeking refuge must stay in the city of refuge until the high priest who was serving at the time of their arrival passes away. The death of the high priest marked the end of the period of sanctuary for the individual.
- “Then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled”: After the death of the high priest, the person who had sought refuge is allowed to return to their own city and house. This means they can safely rejoin their community, free from the threat of retaliation from the avenger of blood, who was a family member seeking vengeance for the deceased.
The cities of refuge served as places of protection and justice in ancient Israel. They were established to prevent the shedding of innocent blood and to ensure that accidental killers were given a fair trial rather than facing immediate retribution. The period of sanctuary provided time for the legal process to take place, and the death of the high priest signified the completion of this period.
