Chapter 21

If [one] be found¹¹ slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth⁶ thee to possess² it, lying⁶ in the field, [and] it be not known⁸ who hath slain⁵² him:

Then thy elders and thy judges⁶ shall come forth,¹ and they shall measure¹ unto the cities which [are] round about him that is slain:

And it shall be, [that] the city [which is] next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take¹ an heifer, ⁵⁶⁹⁷ which hath not been wrought²⁷ with, [and] which hath not drawn¹ in the yoke;

And the elders of that city shall bring down⁵² the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared¹¹ nor sown,¹¹ and shall strike off the heifer's neck¹ there in the valley:

And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near;⁸ for them the LORD thy God hath chosen¹ to minister¹⁵ unto him, and to bless¹⁵ in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be [tried]:

And all the elders of that city, [that are] next unto the slain [man], shall wash⁴ their hands over the heifer that is beheaded⁷ in the valley:

And they shall answer¹ and say,¹ Our hands have not shed¹ this blood, neither have our eyes seen¹ [it].

Be merciful,¹⁶ O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed,¹ and lay⁴ not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven⁹⁸ them.

So shalt thou put away¹⁷ the [guilt of] innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do⁴ [that which is] right in the sight of the LORD.

When thou goest forth⁴ to war against thine enemies,⁶ and the LORD thy God hath delivered¹ them into thine hands, and thou hast taken¹ them captive,

And seest¹ among the captives a beautiful ³³⁰³ woman, and hast a desire¹ unto her, that thou wouldest have¹ her to thy wife;

Then thou shalt bring⁵² her home to thine house; and she shall shave¹⁴ her head, and pare¹ her nails;

And she shall put⁵² the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain¹ in thine house, and bewail¹ her father and her mother a full month: ³¹¹⁷ and after that thou shalt go in⁴ unto her, and be her husband,¹ and she shall be thy wife.

And it shall be, if thou have no delight¹ in her, then thou shalt let her go¹⁴ whither she will; but thou shalt not sell⁴ her at all² for money, thou shalt not make merchandise¹⁰¹ of her, because thou hast humbled¹⁴ her.

If a man have two wives, one beloved,⁷ and another hated,⁷ and they have born¹ him children, [both] the beloved⁷ and the hated;⁷ and [if] the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit⁵³ [that] which he hath, [that] he may⁴ not make the son of the beloved⁷ firstborn¹⁵ before the son of the hated,⁷ [which is indeed] the firstborn:

But he shall acknowledge⁵⁵ the son of the hated⁷ [for] the firstborn, by giving² him a double portion of all that he hath:¹¹ for he [is] the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn [is] his.

If a man have a stubborn⁶ and rebellious⁶ son, which will not obey⁶ the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and [that], when they have chastened¹⁴ him, will not hearken⁴ unto them:

Then shall his father and his mother lay hold¹ on him, and bring him out⁵² unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

And they shall say¹ unto the elders of his city, This our son [is] stubborn⁶ and rebellious,⁶ he will not obey⁶ our voice; [he is] a glutton,⁶ and a drunkard.⁶

And all the men of his city shall stone¹ him with stones, that he die:¹ so shalt thou put evil away¹⁴ from among you; and all Israel shall hear,⁴ and fear.⁴

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death,⁹⁰ and thou hang¹ him on a tree:

His body shall not remain⁴ all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise² bury⁴ him that day; (for he that is hanged⁷ [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled,¹⁷ which the LORD thy God giveth⁶ thee [for] an inheritance.