12. The Atonement: death of the High Priest

» RAnderson - death of the High Priest

Perhaps then you would comment on Jacob Milgrom's statement in his JPS commentary on Numbers:

The Jews believed that the death of the High Priest had atoning significance. Persons charged with accidental homicide who had fled to a city of refuge were permitted to return home after the death of the High Priest without facing prosecution. (Num. 35:11, 25, 28, 32) The death of the High Priest was regarded as atonement for the innocent blood that had been shed. Jacob Milgrom in his JPS Torah Commentary on Numbers with respect to Num. 35:25 states 'As the High Priest atones for Israel's sins through his cultic service in his lifetime (Exod. 28:36; Lev. 16:16, 21), so he atones for homicide through his death. Since the blood of the slain, although spilled accidently, cannot be avenged through the death of the slayer, it is ransomed through the death of the High Priest which releases all homicides from their cities of refuge. That it is not the exile of the manslaughter but the death of the High Priest that expiates his crime is confirmed by the Mishnah: "If, after the slayer has been sentenced as an accidental homicide, the High Priest dies, he need not go into exile." The Talmud, in turn comments thereon "But it is not the exile that expiates? It is not the exile that expiates, but the death of the high priest."' [footnotes omitted].

-- posted by RAnderson