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.
8
Reconcile thy people Israel, whom thou hast ransomed, O LORD, and impute not the innocent blood shed in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
9
So shalt thou put away the
guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do
that which is right in the sight of the LORD.