פּירוש אויף במדבר 35:28

“The killer may return to his land holding” [35:28]. The killer may return to his land holding. Raba said: the killer returns home to his barns, fields, and vineyards. However, the official position that he previously had is not given back to him. Rabbi Meir said that he is given back his position of authority.¹⁸B. Makkot, 13a. In the Talmud, Rabbi Judah, rather than Raba is cited.

V. 28. כי בעיר מקלטו ישב. Makkot 12b wird an dieser wiederholten Beschränkung seines Aufenthaltes auf die Stadt, die ihn einmal schützend aufgenommen, zugleich der Satz gelehrt, daß, wenn er in seiner מקלט-Stadt wiederum einen unvorsätzlichen Mord begeht, er nicht in eine andere מקלט-Stadt zu fliehen hat, sondern innerhalb der Stadt, die einmal sein מקלט, die ihn "festhaltende Umgrenzung" geworden, משכונה לשכונה von einem Stadtviertel in das andere verwiesen wird und fortan auf diesen Stadtteil beschränkt bleibt. בעיר מקלטו ישב עיר שקלטתו כבר (daselbst).

אחרי מות הכהן הגדול ישוב הרוצח וגו, ”after the death of the High Priest, the “murderer” will return” (home). All the cities of the Levites are under the direct authority of the High Priest. It is an undisputed law that that such unintentional “murderers” go free at the death of the High Priest. Our sages have a saying that “death brings in its wake atonement.” (Talmud Makkot folio 11), where it is clear that the “death” referred to is that of the High Priest. We find something analogous in Isaiah 14,17: אסיריו לא פתח ביתה, “who never released its prisoners?” [The prophet decries such a cruel practice. Jewish law which basically does not provide for prison as a form of punishment, certainly would not countenance life imprisonment. Ed.]