Study Desk

If one is found slain in the land which Jehovah your God is giving to you, to possess it, lying in the field, and it is not known who has struck him;

then your elders and your judges shall come out. And they shall measure to the cities which are around the one slain.

And it shall be, that the city nearest to the one slain, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which has not been worked with, and which has not drawn in the yoke.

And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to an ever-flowing stream, which is not plowed nor sown. And they shall break the heifer's neck there by the stream.

And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near (for Jehovah your God has chosen them to minister to Him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah) and by their mouth shall every controversy and every stroke be tried .

And all the elders of that city nearest to the one slain shall wash their hands by the stream, over the heifer whose neck was broken.

And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it.

O Jehovah, be merciful to Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not allow innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

And you shall put away the innocent blood from among you, for you shall do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.