Derasha on Bamidbar 35:25 · TT unit 5

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:25 · TT note 5

The Complete Passuk

וְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־הָרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֮ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־עִ֥יר מִקְלָט֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־מ֚וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Makkos 11a (TT note on “הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל”).

E-Daf — Makkos 11a · Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Makkos 11a
וּכְתִיב כִּי בְּעִיר מִקְלָטוֹ יֵשֵׁב עַד מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל וְאַחֲרֵי מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל יָשׁוּב, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֶחָד מָשׁוּחַ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְאֶחָד מְרֻבֶּה בְּגָדִים וְאֶחָד כֹּהֵן שֶׁעָבַר מִמְּשִׁיחָתוֹ מַחֲזִירִין אֶת הָרוֹצֵחַ בְּמִיתָתָן.

English: And it is written “for he shall dwell in his city of refuge until the death of the High Priest… and after the death of the High Priest he shall return,” to teach that whether [the High Priest was] anointed with the anointing oil, or [only] multiplied in garments, or a priest who had left his anointing — their death releases the killer.

Type of Learning

Scope of which High-Priest deaths release the exile.

What Is Learned

Any of the three categories of High Priest — anointed, garments-only, or deposed — releases the unintentional killer upon death.