“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.”
And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who is in office at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home and to the city from which he fled — The refuge lasts until legal judgment occurs and the high priest dies. The high priest's death seems to mark a covenant reset: the slayer's temporal bondage (qibṣô) expires with the priestly generation that witnessed the original transgression. The phrase 'return to his own home' (lāšûb el-bêtô) restores normal covenantal life. Theologically, the refuge city structure combines justice, mercy, and temporal limitation; it acknowledges human frailty while maintaining covenant order.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
0/2000
No notes on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!