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 body was found lying dead from a wound, and it was not known by whom the wound had been inflicted, the whole land would be involved in the guilt of the murder, unless it was duly expiated as here directed. First, the elders and judges (presumably of the neighboring towns; of Josephus, 'Antiq.' 4.8, 16) were to meet, the former as magistrates representing the communities, the latter as administrators of the law, and were to measure the distance from the body of the slain man to each of the surrounding towns, in order to ascertain which was the nearest. This ascertained, upon that town was to be laid the duty of expiating the crime.