Deuteronomy 21:1-9

(b) Expiation for an Unknown Murderer's Crime (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)

If one be found slain in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him; 2 then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: 3 and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; 4 and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley. 5 And the priests the son of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be. 6 And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; 7 and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Forgive, O Jehovah, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood to remain in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them. 9 So shalt thou put away the innocent blood from the midst of thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 21:1-9

316.

Responsibility was such a vital part of the life of all Israel, all human life was of supreme importance. How are these two thoughts dramatized in this text?

317.

Who was to pay for the heifer?

319.

Why specify the particular type of heifer?

319.

Why: the running water?; a field that has never been plowed nor sown?

320.

The washing of hands to clear guilt is found elsewhere, name two.

321.

How is the expression innocent blood used in Deuteronomy 21:8-9?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 21:1-9

If one be found slain in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess, lying in the field, and it is not known who has killed him.
2 Then your elders and judges shall come forth and measure the distance to the cities around him who is slain;
3 And the city which is nearest to the slain man, the elders of that city shall take a heifer, which has never been worked, never pulled in the yoke;
4 And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.
5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name [and presence] of the Lord, and by their word shall every controversy and every assault be settled.
6 And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
7 And they shall testify, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
8 Forgive, O Lord, Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not allow the shedding of innocent blood to be charged to Your people Israel, And the guilt of blood shall be forgiven them.
9 So shall you purge the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.

COMMENT 21:1-9

Note that in Deuteronomy 21:3, the city's leaders nearest the slain man were responsible for making expiation. The ritual outlined here was applicable to cases where murder was not (and perhaps could not be) expiated by the apprehension, conviction, and execution of the murderer. Until the mystery was unravelled, this formula would exonerate the city's inhabitants.

THE ELDERS. SHALL TAKE A HEIFER (Deuteronomy 21:3)It is to be one in full vigor and health, which has not seen domestic work, and consequently expressed in the fullest form the life-producing power to which the violent death stood as a contrast.

THE ELDERS. SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS (Deuteronomy 21:6)An assertion of their innocence and repudiation of their guilt. Cf. Ph. 26:6, 73:13; Matthew 27:24.

SO SHALT THOU PUT AWAY INNOCENT BLOOD (Deuteronomy 21:9)Or, (as in Deuteronomy 19:13) the guilt of shedding innocent blood. By the formula prescribed, they would not be held guilty for the blood already shed, nor of taking another man's blood before he was proved guilty. When the process of justice was properly carried out, no innocent person's blood would be shed.