Deuteronomy 21:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

Care had been taken by some preceding laws for the vigorous and effectual persecution of a wilful murderer (Deut. 19:11-13), the putting of whom to death was the putting away of the guilt of blood from the land; but if this could not be done, the murderer not being discovered, they must not think that the land was in no danger of contracting any pollution because it was not through any neglect of theirs that the murderer was unpunished; no, a great solemnity is here provided for the putting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1

If one be found slain ,.... After public war with an enemy, Moses proceeds to speak of a private quarrel and fight of one man with another, in which one is slain, as Aben Ezra observes: in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it ; where murders might be committed more secretly, and remain undiscovered, when they came to live in separate cities, towns, and villages, with fields adjacent to them, than now encamped together: lying in the field ; where the quarrel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:2

Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth ,.... From the city or cities near to which the murder was committed, to make inquiry about it, and expiation for it; so Aben Ezra interprets it of the elders of the cities near, but others understand it of the elders of the great sanhedrim at Jerusalem; so the Targum of Jonathan,"then shall go out from the great sanhedrim two of thy wise men, and three of thy judges;'and more expressly the Misnah F12 Sotah, c. 9. sect. 1. ,"three go out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:3

And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man ,.... And so suspected, as the Targum of Jonathan, of the murder; or the murderer is in it, or however belonged to it: even the elders of the city shall take an heifer ; of a year old, as the same Targum, and so Jarchi; and in this the Jewish writers agree, that it must be a year old, but not two; though heifers of three years old were sometimes used in sacrifice, Genesis 15:9 a type of Christ, in his strength,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:1

Verse 1 1.If one be found slain in the land. This Supplement: is of a mixed character, relating partly to the civil, and partly to the criminal law. We are informed by it how precious to God is the life of man; for, if a murder had been committed by some unknown person, He requires an expiation to be made, whereby the neighboring cities should purge themselves from the pollution of the crime. Whence it appears that the earth is so polluted by human blood, that those who encourage murder by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

EXPOSITION EXPIATION OF UNCERTAIN MURDER . TREATMENT OF A CAPTIVE TAKEN TO WIFE . RIGHTS OF THE FIRSTBORN . A REBELLIOUS , REFRACTORY SON TO BE JUDGED AND PUNISHED . A MALEFACTOR WHO HAS BEEN HANGED TO BE BURIED ERE NIGHTFALL . One general idea, viz. the sacredness of human life and of personal rights, connects the laws in this chapter together, as well as connects them with the laws in the two preceding chapters. If a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

The preciousness of one human life in the sight of God. The value of this paragraph can be duly appreciated only as the indifference with which pagan nations of old regarded human life is studied and understood. As a piece of civil legislation, it is far superior to anything in the code of the nations around at that time. Dr. Jameson remarks that in it we have undoubtedly the origin or the germ of modern coroners' inquests. The following points in it are worthy of note. 1. It is a rule... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

Atonement for unknown sin. We have here a ritual applicable to cases where murder has not been expiated by the apprehension and execution of the murderer. The mystery has remained unraveled. The elders and judges, in such a case, are to come and measure which city is nearest the slain man, and the elders of that city are then required to take the heifer prescribed and make atonement, that the country may be delivered from the guilt of innocent blood. The heifer is to be one in the full... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

Purification from guilt of an uncertain murder. The explanation commonly given of this peculiar ceremony seems unsatisfactory. Keil's view, that "it was a symbolical infliction of the punishment that should have been borne by the murderer, upon the animal which was substituted for him," is contradicted by the fact that, for deliberate murder, the Law, as he admits, provided no expiation, while the object of this ceremony was plainly in some way to remove blood-guiltiness. Fairbairn's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-9

The creation of righteous, public sentiment. The influence of man upon man is omnific; it touches him at every point. The potency of influence depends on character, rank, age, station. The character of kings is soon reflected on their courtiers. From this principle is born the adage, "Like priest, like people." Crimes proceed from depraved sentiment, and sentiment can be purified by righteous influence. I. CRIME COVETS CONCEALMENT . All crime is cowardly, base, mean. It fears the... read more

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