Joshua 20:5–6

“ ‘Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

The “manslayer” who makes it to a sanctuary city before the avenger catches up to him isn’t out of danger just yet. The next step is that he stands before the congregation for judgment.

Importantly, this judgement is not done in private. The hearing is conducted before the congregation. Everyone hears all the details. That’s essential, not just to the justice but to how it glorifies God.

No process is perfect. Errors will be made. Some of those errors will be uncovered later.

But in all cases the problem will be human error. The process won’t be to blame.

But this passage contains a head-scratching twist. What does this have to do with the death of the one who is high priest? That’s completely out of the blue. How can there be any connection?

In many areas (e.g., Bible, physics, art) the most incongruous things are the most worth serious study. When something in a painting is impossible or doesn’t make sense, look for symbolic meaning. Many artists paint in hidden messages by using out-of-place things.

Since the timing of the High Priest’s death doesn’t seem to fit literally, maybe it’s figurative. Hmmmm.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. — Hebrews 4:14

A figurative understanding makes more sense than anything else I’ve found, and it’s supported by some of the ancients.

Ambrose (ca. 339 – 397) wrote, “There remains … what Scripture says concerning the death of the chief priest, ‘that the homicide shall be in the city of refuge even to that time, until the high priest dies.’ In this passage the literal interpretation causes difficulty. First, the period of flight is limited by chance rather than by any consideration of fairness; further, in like cases the result is unlike. … However, what is the meaning beneath the uncertainty? And so, because the letter causes difficulty, let us search for spiritual meanings. Who is that high priest but the Son of God, the Word of God?” — Flight from the World 2.13

Jerome (ca. 347 – 420) adds, “[He] is ordered to flee to a city of refuge and remain in that place until the death of the high priest, that is to say, until he is redeemed by the blood of the Savior.” — Defense Against the Pelagians 1.33

This interpretation has its own problems though. The Israelites would have interpreted this rule literally.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.