Deuteronomy 21:1-7

1 When one is found dead in the land which the LORD thy God gives thee to inherit, lying in the field, and it is not known who has slain 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 dead;

3 and it shall be that the elders of the city which is next unto the dead man shall take a heifer, which has not served, and which has not drawn in the yoke;

4 and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which has neither been plowed 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 the LORD thy God has chosen them to minister unto him and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be determined.

6 And all the elders of that closest city next to the dead man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley.

7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

Deuteronomy 21:1-7 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.