Chapter 21
How amends are made for murders by unknown persons—Equity is required in dealing with wives and children—Stubborn and rebellious sons will be put to death.
1 If one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:
2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure
3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been
4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither
5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every
6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer
7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
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9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.
10 ¶When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
13 And she shall put the
14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not
15 ¶If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another
16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not
17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a
18 ¶If a man have a
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
22 ¶And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
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