Translations
Modern
…your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities.
Traditional
Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:
Literal
…then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure to the cities that are surrounding the slain one.
Latin
…egredientur majores natu, et judices tui, et metientur a loco cadaveris singularum per circuitum spatia civitatum:
Original
Hebrew
English
…your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities.
Notes
The guilt of murder was usually removed through the death of the murderer (19:11–13; Numbers 35:30–34). However, if the murderer was unknown, the guilt could still be removed by using this ritual.
Theme notes and profiles
Glossary
Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Bloodguilt Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of
Topics
Blood: Shedding of Human: Mode of Clearing Those Accused of Church: Rules of Discipline In, Mosaic and Christian Government: Municipal: Devolving Upon a Local Senate and Executive officers Heifer: An Atonement for Murder Homicide: Felonious, or Murder Inquest: General Scriptures Concerning Murder: Imputed to the Nearest City when the Murderer Was Unknown