The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:6

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The elders of that city. The elders, by the significant act of washing their hands, indicated that they threw off from them, utterly repudiated, the charge of blood-guiltiness on the part of the town which they represented (cf. Psalms 26:6; Psalms 73:13; Matthew 27:24).

Deuteronomy 21:7, Deuteronomy 21:8

This act they were to accompany with a solemn declaration of their innocence of this crime, and of their entire ignorance of the perpetrator of it; and with an earnest cry to God that the sin which had been done might be forgiven. Be merciful … unto; be propitiated towards (literally, cover, כַּפֵּר לְעַמְךָ; for the phrase, כַּפֵר לְ, see Le Deuteronomy 1:4). And lay not innocent blood; the blood of the innocent man who has been slain.

More for Deuteronomy 21:6

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Deuteronomy 21:1-9 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryIf a murderer could not be found out, great solemnity is provided for putting away the guilt from the land, as an expression of dread and detesting of that sin. The providence of God has often wonderfully brought to lig…Undetected Murder. (b. c. 1451.)Deuteronomy 21:1-9 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleUNDETECTED MURDER. (B. C. 1451.) Care had been taken by some preceding laws for the vigorous and effectual persecution of a wilful murderer (Deuteronomy 19:11-13, &c.), the putting of whom to death was the putting away…The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-23Deuteronomy 21:1-23 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION EXPIATION OF UNCERTAIN MURDER. TREATMENT OF A CAPTIVE TAKEN TO WIFE. RIGHTS OF THE FIRSTBORN. A REBELLIOUS, REFRACTORY SON TO BE JUDGED AND PUNISHED. A MALEFACTOR WHO HAS BEEN HANGED TO BE BURIED ERE NIGHTFAL…The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Deuteronomy 21:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryIf a body was found lying dead from a wound, and it was not known by whom the wound had been inflicted, the whole land would be involved in the guilt of the murder, unless it was duly expiated as here directed. First, t…The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Deuteronomy 21:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe preciousness of one human life in the sight of God. The value of this paragraph can be duly appreciated only as the indifference with which pagan nations of old regarded human life is studied and understood. As a pi…The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Deuteronomy 21:1-9 · The Pulpit CommentaryAtonement for unknown sin. We have here a ritual applicable to cases where murder has not been expiated by the apprehension and execution of the murderer. The mystery has remained unraveled. The elders and judges, in su…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:1-9If a murderer could not be found out, great solemnity is provided for putting away the guilt from the land, as an expression of dread and detesting of that sin. The providence of God has often wonderfully brought to lig…Matthew Henry commentaryUndetected Murder. (b. c. 1451.)UNDETECTED MURDER. (B. C. 1451.) Care had been taken by some preceding laws for the vigorous and effectual persecution of a wilful murderer (Deuteronomy 19:11-13, &c.), the putting of whom to death was the putting away…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Atonement for unknown sin. We have here a ritual applicable to cases where murder has not been expiated by the apprehension and execution of the murderer. The mystery has remained unraveled. The elders and judges, in su…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9Purification from guilt of an uncertain murder. The explanation commonly given of this peculiar ceremony seems unsatisfactory. Keil's view, that "it was a symbolical infliction of the punishment that should have been bo…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9The creation of righteous, public sentiment. The influence of man upon man is omnific; it touches him at every point. The potency of influence depends on character, rank, age, station. The character of kings is soon ref…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9If a body was found lying dead from a wound, and it was not known by whom the wound had been inflicted, the whole land would be involved in the guilt of the murder, unless it was duly expiated as here directed. First, t…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-23EXPOSITION EXPIATION OF UNCERTAIN MURDER. TREATMENT OF A CAPTIVE TAKEN TO WIFE. RIGHTS OF THE FIRSTBORN. A REBELLIOUS, REFRACTORY SON TO BE JUDGED AND PUNISHED. A MALEFACTOR WHO HAS BEEN HANGED TO BE BURIED ERE NIGHTFAL…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1-9The preciousness of one human life in the sight of God. The value of this paragraph can be duly appreciated only as the indifference with which pagan nations of old regarded human life is studied and understood. As a pi…Joseph S. Exell and contributors