Here’s the mystery at the heart of the cities of refuge: the high priest’s death released the manslayer. When the high priest died, the manslayer could finally go home. But why? The high priest had nothing to do with the death that occurred. He wasn’t involved. He wasn’t guilty. Yet somehow, his death satisfied justice.
God doesn’t explain all the mechanics in Joshua 20, but He’s establishing a principle that will culminate in Jesus Christ. The death of an innocent substitute satisfies the claims of justice and releases the guilty.
Hebrews 2:17 says Jesus “had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Jesus is our High Priest, and only His death can truly set us free.
Here’s the stunning difference: the manslayer in the Old Testament was innocent of murder. It was an accident. But you and I? We’re not innocent. We’ve willfully rebelled against God. We’ve committed cosmic treason. We deserve death. We deserve eternal separation from God.
Yet Jesus, our High Priest, died in our place. His death doesn’t just cover our accidental sins; it covers all of them. Every last one. Every willful rebellion. Every intentional sin. Every thought, word, and deed that falls short of God’s glory.
The cities of refuge could only hold the manslayer until the high priest died. But Christ’s death is once and for all. It fully satisfies justice. It completely secures our freedom. We can go home. We can be restored to relationship with God. Forever.