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.
The person who accidentally killed someone must stay in that city of refuge until they can stand trial before the community leaders, and until the high priest who is serving at that time dies. Only then can the person who caused the death return safely to their own city and house—the place they had to flee from.
This verse explains that someone who accidentally killed another person had to stay in a designated safe city until they received a fair trial and until the current high priest died, after which they could safely return home.
📚 Historical Context
This was part of God's legal system for ancient Israel regarding cities of refuge—special towns where people who accidentally killed someone could flee for protection from revenge. The death of the high priest served as a kind of natural end to the exile period, possibly symbolizing atonement and a fresh start for the community.
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