Commentary פַּרְשָׁנוּת
The Torah says that if a person killed someone by accident, they should run away to an עִיר מִקְלָט (ir miklat, city of refuge). Here they would be safe from a family member of the victim who might seek revenge. This family member is called a גּוֹאֵל הַדָּם (go’el ha-dam, blood revenger).
The rule is that an accidental killer has to stay in the ir miklat until the death of the כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (kohen gadol, high priest). Why?
What’s the connection between the exile of the killer and the death of the kohen gadol?
לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁלֹּא תֶאֱרַע תַּקָּלָה זוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחַיָּיו.
Because the kohen gadol should have prayed so that this curse (accidental murder) wouldn’t have happened to Israel in his lifetime.
According to Rashi, the kohen gadol is partially responsible for the accidental murder. So the kohen gadol’s death brings about some atonement or forgiveness from God. This makes it possible for the person who committed the accidental murder to be freed.
- Why should the kohen gadol be responsible for any accidental murder that took place while he was in office?
- What does this tell us about the responsibility our leaders have for what happens to the people they lead?
לְפִי שֶׁהַכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הָיָה שַׂר וְגָדוֹל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְקָדוֹשׁ לְאֱלֹקָיו וּבְמוֹתוֹ כָּל הָעָם יֵחָרֵד וְהַחַי יִתֵּן אֶל לִבּוֹ כִּי יְמֵי הָאָדָם כְּצֵל עוֹלָם וְלָמָּה לֹא יָסִיר מֵרַעֲיוֹנָיו נִקְמַת דָּם קְרוֹבוֹ.
Because the kohen gadol was a great authority in Israel and holy to God. With his death all the people would be shaken up. Each living person would think about how short life is, and this would make people give up the idea of taking revenge for a family member’s blood.
When someone close to us dies it can make us rethink our priorities and focus on what really matters in life. According to Abarbanel, the kohen gadol was deeply admired by the people. As their spiritual leader, he was as important to them as their own closest loved ones. So the death of the kohen gadol would have a huge impact on the entire nation. Every single person in Israel would feel the loss personally, and would be inspired to make changes to be better!
This would lead any potential go’el ha-dam to give up their desire for revenge. So, in this way, the death of the kohen gadol meant that accidental killers weren’t in danger any more.
- Why do you think the death of the kohen gadol would have such a powerful impact on everybody? What does this tell you about the role of the kohen gadol? How can this apply to spiritual leaders today?
- Can you explain in your own words the difference between Rashi and Abarbanel’s understandings of the kohen gadol’s death?
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