‘ And he shall dwell in that city until he stand before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days. Then shall the slayer return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city from where he fled.'
The manslayer must eventually be tried. If found guilty of deliberate murder he is to be handed over to those who seek blood vengeance. If innocent he is to be allowed to remain in the city of refuge. But the death of the high priest finally provides for his release. On the death of the high priest his innocent manslaying is in some way expiated and blood vengeance must no longer be required. Such blood vengeance would then itself be looked on as murder. This suggests that the high priest is in some way seen as representing the whole of the people, and his death is therefore seen as substitutionary on their behalf in respect of non-deliberate sin.
Stand before the congregation.' This suggests that their judgment is seen as carried out before all the people on whose behalf the elders act. Perhaps final ratification of the verdict was required by all the men of the city in such a case. Or it may even suggest that a final verdict was obtained at the Tabernacle at the great feasts when such a man was brought before YHWH for a final verdict.
“High priest.” The priest at the Tabernacle is usually called ‘the Priest'. High priest occurs in Numbers 35:25; Numbers 35:28; Leviticus 21:10. It was possibly at this stage not an official title but indicated the recognised leading priest at the sanctuary. He was the representative of the people and wore the holy garments. Such an official was also common in the surrounding nations so that there are no grounds for denying its authenticity here. His death was clearly seen as a hugely important event, even a sacrificial event, resulting in a general expiation for non-deliberate sin.