211 If a dead body is found on the ground, this ground that God, your God, has given you, lying out in the open, and no one knows who killed him, 2 your leaders and judges are to go out and measure the distance from the body to the nearest cities. 3 The leaders and judges of the city that is nearest the corpse will then take a heifer that has never been used for work, never had a yoke on it. 4 The leaders will take the heifer to a valley with a stream, a valley that has never been plowed or planted, and there break the neck of the heifer. 5 The Levitical priests will then step up. God has chosen them to serve him in these matters by settling legal disputes and violent crimes and by pronouncing blessings in God's name. 6 Finally, all the leaders of that town that is nearest the body will wash their hands over the heifer that had its neck broken at the stream 7 and say, "We didn't kill this man and we didn't see who did it. 8 Purify your people Israel whom you redeemed, O God. Clear your people Israel from any guilt in this murder." 9 By following these procedures you will have absolved yourselves of any part in the murder because you will have done what is right in God's sight.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9
Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9
(Read Deuteronomy 21:1-9)
If a murderer could not be found out, great solemnity is provided for putting away the guilt from the land, as an expression of dread and detesting of that sin. The providence of God has often wonderfully brought to light these hidden works of darkness, and the sin of the guilty has often strangely found them out. The dread of murder should be deeply impressed upon every heart, and all should join in detecting and punishing those who are guilty. The elders were to profess that they had not been any way aiding or abetting the sin. The priests were to pray to God for the country and nation, that God would be merciful. We must empty that measure by our prayers, which others are filling by their sins. All would be taught by this solemnity, to use the utmost care and diligence to prevent, discover, and punish murder. We may all learn from hence to take heed of partaking in other men's sins. And we have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, if we do not reprove them.