Slain Deuteronomy 21

When a slain man is found and there are no witnesses, who is responsible for the killing?

Deuteronomy 21:1 "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:"

Who is responsible?

v3 "And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man..."

When a question arises in reading the Bible, often it can be answered simply by reading the surrounding verses. One can become greatly misinformed by picking out just one verse and not understanding the context it is used in.

In this case, a body is found but no one saw the killing. The priests are to measure the distance to the surrounding cities and the nearest city to the body must take responsibility. There is still no killer identified however but the blood of the man must be compensated for.

v4 "And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley...strike off the heifer's neck...v6And all the elders of that city ...shall wash their hands over the heifer."

Then a prayer is prayed. They shall declare their innocence of the death of the man and ask for God's mercy that the sin be not charged to them.

v9 "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."

v10-17 deals with domestic issues, particularly, that of husbands and wives. An example is given of a man who marries a woman he has found among captives. If he decides he does not like her, she may leave without any penalty.

Also covered is a situation where a man has two wives, one he loves and another he does not. The issue is inheritance. If the one he does not like has the firstborn, that firstborn will keep the position of firstborn regardless of his feelings for that wife.

v18-23 is a stern law for the disobedient son. It leaves no question that a child is to obey his parents.

Hebrews 8:6 "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."

I find no place where the law is said to be a bad thing. It is just that Christ has made a better way for us. I think of the law as the warden who kept us in, but grace as the counselor who set us free. We have liberty that must not be misused.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

keywords; Milton Southerland, Bible study, Old Testament, law, marriage