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׃
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.
