Joel M Bradshaw

26“ ‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled 27and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.–Numbers 35 (emphasis)

IN CONTEXT: Murder received the death penalty. Manslaughter allowed for the alleged criminal to flee to a certain city while his case was being heard by a judge so the victim’s “family avenger” couldn’t kill him in retaliation. If he left the city, he was fair game for the avenger to kill him, but was safe in the city. When the high priest died, the debt would be cleared. So that alleged manslayer may have had to live as a fugitive for decades!

FOR US: The New Testament book of Hebrews described Jesus as our High Priest. In his sacrificial death, Jesus intercedes for us as our advocate, He uniquely meets our spiritual needs as sinners who need payment for our sins. And He offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrificial payment! I invite you to read Hebrews 7:22-28. The old High Priest set the original sinner free by his death. Yet he just passively died. Jesus offered Himself freely! What an image that points to the sacrifice of Jesus!–JMB