Joshua 20:6

6 The killer must stay in the city until a court comes to a decision and until the high priest dies. Then he may go back home to the town from which he ran away."

Joshua 20:6 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:6

And he shall dwell in that city until he shall stand before
the congregation for judgment
That is, until his cause was heard in the court of judicature in his own city, or in any other to which the avenger of blood should appeal: see ( Numbers 35:24 Numbers 35:25 ) ; who if they found him guilty of death, they put him to death; but if only guilty of accidental manslaughter, then they delivered him up to his city of refuge for safety, where he was to abide

until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days;
see ( Numbers 35:25 ) ;

then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his
own house, unto the city from whence he fled;
and live with his family in the enjoyment of his possessions and estates, honours, and privileges belonging to him, as before; see ( Numbers 35:28 ) .

Joshua 20:6 In-Context

4 "When the killer runs to one of those cities, he must stop at the entrance gate, stand there, and tell the leaders of the people what happened. Then that person will be allowed to enter the city and will be given a place to live among them.

5 But if the one who is chasing him follows him to that city, the leaders of the city must not hand over the killer. It was an accident. He did not hate him beforehand or kill him on purpose.

6 The killer must stay in the city until a court comes to a decision and until the high priest dies. Then he may go back home to the town from which he ran away."

7 So the Israelites chose these cities to be cities of safety: Kedesh in Galilee in the mountains of Naphtali; Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim; Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the mountains of Judah;

8 Bezer on the east side of the Jordan River near Jericho in the desert in the land of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead in the land of Gad; and Golan in Bashan in the land of Manasseh.