Deuteronomy 21:2

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 21:2

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

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 21:2

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 21:1-3

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:1-23

Respect for human life (21:1-23)Murder made the land unclean, and the uncleanness could be removed only by the execution of the murderer (see Numbers 35:29-34). Where the murderer could not be found, the elders of the town nearest the place of the murder had to go to an unpolluted stream nearby and carry out the ritual slaughter of a young cow instead of the unknown murderer. The blood of the cow washed away in the stream symbolized the removal of uncleanness caused by the unlawful bloodshed... read more

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