The elders of that city. The elders, by the significant act of washing their hands, indicated that they threw off from them, utterly repudiated, the charge of blood-guiltiness on the part of the town which they represented (cf. Psalms 26:6 ; Psalms 73:13 ; Matthew 27:24 ). read more
This act they were to accompany with a solemn declaration of their innocence of this crime, and of their entire ignorance of the perpetrator of it; and with an earnest cry to God that the sin which had been done might be forgiven. Be merciful … unto ; be propitiated towards (literally, cover , כַּפֵּר לְעַמְךָ ; for the phrase, כַּפֵר לְ , see Le Deuteronomy 1:4 ). And lay not innocent blood ; the blood of the innocent man who has been slain. read more
The elders represented the citizens at large, the judges the magistracy: priests Deuteronomy 21:5 from the nearest priestly town, were likewise to be at hand. Thus, all classes would be represented at the purging away of that blood-guiltiness which until removed attached to the whole community. read more
The requirements as regards place and victim are symbolic. The heifer represented the murderer, so far at least as to die in his stead, since he himself could not be found. As hearing his guilt the heifer must therefore be one which was of full growth and strength, and had not yet been ceremonially profaned by human use. The Christian commentators find here a type of Christ and of His sacrifice for man: but the heifer was not strictly a sacrifice or sin-offering. The transaction was rather... read more
Eared - i. e., plowed; compare Genesis 45:6 note and references. The word is derived from the Latin, and is in frequent use by English writers of the fifteenth and two following centuries.Strike off the heifer’s neck - Rather, “break its neck” (compare Exodus 13:13). The mode of killing the victim distinguishes this lustration from the sin-offering, in which there would be of course shedding and sprinkling of the blood. read more
Deuteronomy 21:1-3. Lying in the field Or, in the city, or any place: only the field is named as the place where such murders are most commonly committed. Thy elders and judges Those of thy elders who are judges: the judges or rulers of all the neighbouring cities. Measure Unless it be evident which city is nearest; for then measuring was superfluous. Which hath not drawn in the yoke A fit representation of the murderer, in whose stead it was killed, who would not bear the yoke of... read more
Deuteronomy 21:4. Unto a rough valley The Hebrew word נחל , nachal, here used, signifies either a valley or a torrent; and most probably is here meant of a valley with a brook running through it. For ( Deu 21:6 ) the elders are required to wash their hands over the heifer, which seems to intimate that there was running water in the place. Which is neither eared nor sown Rough, uncultivated ground, fitly representing the horribleness of the murder. The Jews say, that unless, after this,... read more
Deuteronomy 21:5-6. By their word shall every controversy be tried That is, every one of this kind, every one that shall arise about any stroke, whether such a mortal stroke as is here spoken of, or any other, or wound given by one man to another. In these matters they shall give sentence, being consulted by the elders or judges of the cities, Deuteronomy 17:9-12. The elders shall wash their hands Protesting their innocence, says a learned Jewish writer, (Chazkuni,) in these words: “As... read more
Deuteronomy 21:7-8. They shall answer To the priests who shall examine them. This blood This about which the present inquiry is made; or this which is here present: for it is thought the corpse of the slain man was brought into the same place where the heifer was slain. Nor have we seen or understood how or by whom this was done. Forgiven Though there was no moral guilt in this people, yet there was a ceremonial uncleanness in the land, which was to be expiated and forgiven. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:5
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near. The presence of the priests at this ceremony was due to their position as the servants of Jehovah the King of Israel, on whom it devolved to see that all was done in any matter as his Law prescribed. The priests present were probably those from the nearest Levitical town. And by their word shall every controversy and every stroke he tried ; literally, And upon their mouth shall be every strife and every stroke , i . e . by their... read more