And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
You must not accept any payment or bribe to allow someone who has fled to a city of refuge to return and live in the land before the high priest dies.
This verse establishes that someone who accidentally killed another person and fled to safety cannot buy their way out early - they must wait until the high priest dies to return home.
📚 Historical Context
This law was part of God's justice system for ancient Israel regarding cities of refuge - special places where people who accidentally killed someone could flee for safety from revenge. The high priest's death served as a kind of natural pardon that allowed the person to return home safely. This prevented corruption where wealthy people could simply pay to escape consequences while poor people remained in exile.
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