Numbers 35:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The conclusion of their exile is marked by the passing of the priest we have just discussed. This serves as the visible representation, while the true essence lies within the shadows that reveal the mystery of Christ. In what sense? It may be reasonable, Palladius, to consider those ensnared by the chains of sin as if they are effectively the murderers of their own souls, ensnared not by choice but compelled into transgression and wrongdoing against God. This is evident in the truth that "the thoughts of man's heart are evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21) and due to the relentless influence of the law that holds sway over the minds governed by the flesh (Rom. 7:23-25).

The law was established so that those who were confined in the cities of refuge, akin to prisoners, could be released 'after the death of the great sacrifice.' This return to their rightful inheritance, permitted following the high priest's passing for individuals guilty of murder seeking asylum from vengeance, serves as a profound illustration of the divine Sovereign, who through His death liberated all humanity from the grips of hell and the dominion of death.

Why does an individual who has unintentionally taken a life set a date for his return following the bishop's passing (Num. 35:28)? This is because the death of the archbishop, in the manner of Melchisedec, signifies the forgiveness of human transgressions. He restored to paradise the one who had been cast out. Prior to the bishop's death, the fleeing of the individual who committed the act mitigated the wrath of his kin and tempered their murderous intent. The cancellation of the fugitive’s punishment after the bishop’s demise was sufficient to persuade the relatives to subdue their rage, as the bishop under whose jurisdiction the wrongdoing occurred had passed away; thus, the lawgiver established this limit regarding both the offense and the retribution.

Why does the exile of an accidental killer last for the duration of the high priest’s life? The law designates the life of the high priest as the period of sanctuary for someone who has committed unintentional homicide, I believe, to signify something profound. When the high priest's unwitting death renders the involuntary murderers able to return to their homeland and grants them the freedom to leave their place of refuge, the voluntary sacrifice of the Ultimate Priest, rendered powerless by the Resurrection, will erase those unintentional sins and lead all who place their faith in Him back to the heavenly Jerusalem. For, as the wise Apostle states, "But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother" (Galatians 4:26).

What does it signify that following the death of the supreme Priest, the destroyer of humanity is granted forgiveness, while the human race, which by sinning has brought death upon itself, received forgiveness after the passing of the true Priest, our Savior?