It’s a big problem when we don’t know who to blame for a victim’s death. Societies are driven to solve murder mysteries so killers don’t roam free to possibly kill again. Our God-given sense of justice propels a need for resolution, which is one indication we’re made in His image. But is our interest in “whodunits” the same as God’s?
Deuteronomy 21:1-9 takes up the problem of murder mysteries. In this passage, God gave Israel instructions detailing what to do when a body was found and it’s apparent the victim had been slain but the killer was unknown. He seems equally or much more concerned, however, with the spiritual implications of unsolved murder than about the identity and punishment of killers.
Observations
Notice first the nature of the investigation. It was not focused on clues but on determining which town was nearest the site where the dead corpse was found.
The purpose of measuring the distance to the nearest town was to hold it responsible for the murder. Bloodguilt would be applied to the townspeople even though they had not committed the crime or known about the death!
God was not, however, so unmerciful as to leave the city in their guilt without providing a ceremony for expunging guilt.
In ordinary circumstances under God's law, bloodguilt was purged when an avenger killed the murderer. Since it would be unjust for an innocent person to be killed to atone for an unsolved death, God ordained that a heifer would be sacrificed in place of the unknown killer.
A heifer is a young, female cow that has yet to give birth to a calf or to give milk. In this case, it would also be heifer that had not yet been set to work plowing, threshing, or hauling loads.
According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a heifer in the Bible represents “sleekness combined with helplessness.” Such an animal would have been prized for beauty and its potential for breeding other livestock, giving milk, and working hard.
The sacrifice of this animal was not bloody, unlike other sacrifices in the Jewish system. The heifer’s neck was to be broken in “a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown.” It seems that the running water was meant to facilitate the hand-washing aspect of the ritual, indicating a return to purity of something that has become unclean.
The ritual also involved an oath. Town representatives were to swear, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.” They could only say this if it were true; God would know if any of the villagers were truly responsible.
Finally, the ritual also involved prayer: “Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, O Lord, and do not place the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel.” God gave these words to the elders so they could ask forgiveness on behalf of the town and all of Israel.
The entire ritual was performed in the presence of priests—men chosen by God to serve Him, bless the people in God’s name, and settle disputes and assaults. They would relay the message that, with completion of the ritual, the people were forgiven.
This would be the final word on a matter. Responsibility for the murder would have been removed so far as they were concerned. Their slate was wiped clean concerning a death about which they were ignorant. God would be pleased.
Interpretation and application
Thus we see that resolution of murder mysteries according to Dt. 21:1-9 is quite different from our methods today. About the only thing we're familiar with is swearing oaths in court—sometimes on a Bible, sometimes with the phrase “so help me God.” Juries and judges declare they will decide guilt or innocence without prejudice, based solely on evidence; witnesses swear to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Other than that, God is not brought into the process.
So what does Dt. 21:1-9 mean to us today? For one thing, the passage reinforces several principles we’ve already seen in scripture, and ties in with others we will see.
►In Genesis 4:10-11 we saw that the blood of murder victims “cries out to God from the ground.” That corresponds with the idea found in Numbers 35:33-34 and Dt. 19:10-13 that the blood of innocent people stains or defiles the ground. God is highly offended by murder, especially when it occurs on land He gave Israel.
►As in Gen. 9:5-6, God holds men accountable for murder. When a murderer is executed, the stain of unjust bloodshed is expunged.
►The ritual of hand washing foreshadows Pilate’s attempt to cleanse himself of guilt he would incur executing an innocent man. In contrast, the Jewish people who were calling for Jesus’ death accepted that guilt by saying, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:22-25). Unless they repented and turned in faith to Him, their guilt would remain (Acts 3:13-16).
While the ceremony prescribed in Dt. 21:1-9 is not for today, the passage should bring comfort to those who lose loved ones through murder. It shows that God recognizes the loss of every human life and wants the larger community to acknowledge it too. No one is forgotten or ignored by Him, even when our best technology fails to identify a slain individual.
Because He is omniscient, God knows every person who has been slain, and by whom. We see this exact accounting in passages such as Psalm 10, Isaiah 26:21, and Revelation 6:9-11. With God, there are no “cold case” mysteries.
Focus on forgiveness
Even though He is highly offended by murder, God also offers comfort to people who are guilty of murder, which brings us back to the death of Jesus. We are all to blame for His crucifixion because our sins placed Him on the cross.
As with the innocent heifer, God made a way for sin to be forgiven. Jesus is the innocent One slain for all murders and other sins, known and unknown. To be rid of guilt, we need to confess our sin and ask God for mercy (Acts 3:17-21). We can be forgiven and declared righteous on the basis of His sinless sacrifice.
For Israel, the sacrifice on the annual Day of Atonement cleansed Israel from all sins (Leviticus 16:29-30). Isaiah 53:12 foretold that one day Messiah would bear the punishment for many transgressions. This was fulfilled in Jesus, who sacrificed Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 9:11-12). 1 John 1:7-9 says the blood of Christ (Messiah) cleanses us from all sin, including murder.
- Example from the Old Testament: King David was forgiven by God after having Uriah killed (2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 32:5 and 51:14).
- Example from the New Testament: God miraculously saved Saul and made him a missionary, even though he had been guilty of approving the murder of Christians (Acts 9:1, 1 Timothy 1:12-17).
Even though the death penalty may be in effect, God desires a spiritual resolution to murder. He wants victims to be recognized, confession to be made, and forgiveness in Christ to be accepted.
Next: Exodus 21:22-25 and the preborn baby
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Thank you so much! This is very thought provoking: God does not want the murder to be hidden from the townspeople--each member of the community has to feel the horror of the crime happening close to their home. Unsolved murders can often be forgotten through the passage of time, or lost under piles of inconclusive evidence but God does not want His people to forget: He wants a costly sacrifice and a public ceremony to bring the closure of forgiveness. You described the costly heifer to be sacrificed and the public ceremony at which everyone would be present. Bringing the unsolved murder out into the open reminds me a bit of Psalm 32 and the need for the private acknowledgement of sin, confession, and active seeking of forgiveness from God through Christ.
ReplyDeleteBlessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity.
And in whose spirit there is not deceit.
When I kept silent my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to You.
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, `I will confess my transgression to the LORD'
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 32:1-5
Thanks, Janet! I so appreciate your added commentary because it fills in stuff I felt too but didn't get into the post. Psalm 32 is very appropriate, expressing the weight and pain of sin and the fact God loves to forgive!
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