וְיָשַׁ֣ב בָּעִ֣יר הַהִ֗יא עַד־עָמְדֹ֞ו לִפְנֵ֤י הָעֵדָה֙ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט עַד־מֹות֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ול אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם אָ֣ז יָשׁ֣וּב הָרֹצֵ֗חַ וּבָ֤א אֶל־עִירֹו֙ וְאֶל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו אֶל־הָעִ֖יר אֲשֶׁר־נָ֥ס מִשָּֽׁם׃
(Joshua 20:6)
And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the High Priest who will be in those days; then the manslayer may return and enter his city and his house, to the city from which he fled.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Joshua 20:6 exhibits two key grammatical features often found in legal Hebrew:
1. The repeated use of the preposition עַד (“until”) to mark temporal limits or conditions for legal protection.
2. The use of perfect and wayyiqtol forms in a conditional-legal sequence to describe what happens after a specific event.
The verse defines the timeframe of asylum for an unintentional manslayer and what legally allows him to return home.
Examples from Joshua 20:6
| Phrase | Structure | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| עַד־עָמְדֹו לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה לַמִּשְׁפָּט | Preposition + infinitive + noun phrase | “until he stands before the congregation for judgment” – the first legal boundary of asylum |
| עַד־מֹות הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹול | Preposition + noun + definite title | “until the death of the High Priest” – second and final condition for release |
| אָז יָשׁוּב הָרֹצֵחַ | Temporal adverb + perfect (volitive/future use) | “then the manslayer may return” – consequence clause after condition is fulfilled |
Related Grammatical Insight
– The preposition עַד introduces temporal limits, often followed by infinitives or noun clauses:
– עַד בֹּא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ – “until the sun sets”
– The verb יָשׁוּב (“he shall return”) is a perfect form that, in legal or conditional structures, can carry a future or volitional force.
– The use of אָז (“then”) introduces a legal outcome following the fulfillment of the preceding conditions.
This structure reflects precise legal reasoning: asylum is granted for a defined term, and upon the death of the High Priest, the person is restored to their prior life without fear of revenge.
