Deuteronomy 21:3-9 NIV

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 21:3

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 Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:4

The elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley ,.... Cities being generally built on hills, and so had adjacent valleys, to which there was a descent; but here a rough valley, or the rougher part of it, was selected for this purpose. As a valley is low, and this a rough one, it may be an emblem of Christ's being brought into this lower world, from heaven to earth, to do the will of his Father, which was to work out the salvation of his people; and of his coming into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:5

And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near ,.... Who were clearly of the tribe of Levi, as Aben Ezra notes; about whom there could be no dispute; for it seems there sometimes were persons in that office, of whom there was some doubt at least whether they were of that tribe; these seem to be such that belonged to the court of judicature at Jerusalem; see Deuteronomy 17:9 , who were to be present at this solemnity, to direct in the performance of it, and to judge and determine in any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:6

And all the elders of that city that are next unto the slain man ,.... The whole court of judicature belonging to it, all the magistracy of it; even though there were an hundred of them, Maimonides F24 Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 9. sect. 3. says: shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley : in token of their innocence, and this they did not only for themselves, but for the whole city, being the representatives of it; see Psalm 26:6 . Some think that this is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:7

And they shall answer and say ,.... The elders of the city, at the time of the washing of their hands: our hands have not shed this blood ; have been no ways concerned in it, nor accessory to it: the Targum of Jonathan is,"it is manifest before the Lord that he did not come into our hands, nor did we dismiss him, that has shed this blood;'which is more fully explained in the Misnah F25 Ut supra, (Sotah. c. 9.) sect. 6. ; for had they been aware of him, or had any suspicion of him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:8

Be merciful, O Lord, to thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed ,.... Out of Egyptian bondage, and claimed as his own; and therefore it is requested he would be favourable to them, and show them mercy, and not punish them for a sin they were entirely ignorant of, though done by some one among them, whom as yet they could not discover. The words seem to be the words of the elders continued, who having made a declaration of their innocence, humbly request mercy of God, not only for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:9

So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you ,.... Which otherwise, the person not being found out, and brought to just punishment for it, would devolve upon the whole. Aben Ezra interprets it the punishment of innocent blood, which, by the above method being taken, would not be inflicted on them: when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord ; as it was to observe this law concerning the beheading of the heifer, with all the rites and ceremonies... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:4

Shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley - איתן נחל nachal eythan might be translated a rapid stream, probably passing through a piece of uncultivated ground where the elders of the city were to strike off the head of the heifer, and to wash their hands over her in token of their innocence. The spot of ground on which this sacrifice was made must be uncultivated, because it was considered to be a sacrifice to make atonement for the murder, and consequently would pollute the land.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:6

Shall wash their hands over the heifer - Washing the hands, in reference to such a subject as this, was a rite anciently used to signify that the persons thus washing were innocent of the crime in question. It was probably from the Jews that Pilate learned this symbolical method of expressing his innocence. read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:6

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