Deuteronomy 21:1-6

1 "If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him,

2 then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure the distance unto the cities which are round about him that is slain.

3 And it shall be that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer which hath not been worked and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4 and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley.

5 And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto Him and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.

6 And all the elders of that city who are next unto the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley.

Deuteronomy 21:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 21

This chapter treats of the beheading of the heifer, for the expiation of unknown murder, and the rules to be observed in it, De 21:1-9 of a beautiful captive woman an Israelite is desirous of having for his wife, and what methods he must take to accomplish it, De 21:10-14, of giving the double portion to the firstborn, which he must not be deprived of in favour of the son of a beloved wife, De 21:15-17 and of the stubborn and rebellious son, who remaining so must be put to death, De 21:18-21 and of burying a person hanged on a tree the same day he is executed, De 21:22,23.