Deuteronomy 21:6-16

6 Then all the leaders from the town nearest the place where the murdered person was found are to wash their hands over the cow

7 and say, "We did not murder this one, and we do not know who did it.

8 Lord, forgive your people Israel, whom you rescued from Egypt. Forgive us and do not hold us responsible for the murder of an innocent person.'

9 And so, by doing what the Lord requires, you will not be held responsible for the murder.

10 "When the Lord your God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners,

11 you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry.

12 Take her to your home, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails,

13 and change her clothes. She is to stay in your home and mourn for her parents for a month; after that, you may marry her.

14 Later, if you no longer want her, you are to let her go free. Since you forced her to have intercourse with you, you cannot treat her as a slave and sell her.

15 "Suppose a man has two wives and they both bear him sons, but the first son is not the child of his favorite wife.

16 When the man decides how he is going to divide his property among his children, he is not to show partiality to the son of his favorite wife by giving him the share that belongs to the first-born son.

Deuteronomy 21:6-16 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. shave her head; [or] trim her hair.