Deuteronomy 21 Explained
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:
Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure 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 take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley:
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless 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 wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
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.
When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21 offers a glimpse into the comprehensive nature of God's law for the Israelites, demonstrating His concern for justice, purity, and the well-being of individuals and the community. This chapter covers a range of scenarios, from unsolved murders to the treatment of foreign captives, inheritance rights, rebellious children, and the handling of executed criminals. Through these diverse laws, we see God's desire for a society marked by fairness, compassion, and reverence for life. Let's delve into the details of each section.
Atonement for Unsolved Murder (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)
Moses makes it clear that no detail of Israel’s life escaped God’s notice and concern. The chapter begins with a chilling scenario: an unsolved murder (Deuteronomy 21:1). In such a case, the elders and judges of the nearest city were required to perform a specific ritual. This involved measuring the distance to the surrounding cities and sacrificing a heifer in a nearby valley with running water. The elders were then to wash their hands over the heifer and declare their innocence, asking God to not hold them accountable for the shedding of innocent blood. This unique ceremony was instituted to satisfy God's holiness and purge the land of the innocent blood spilled (Deuteronomy 21:9), because life was precious to God and because the victim’s blood had to be atoned for. This act served as a symbolic cleansing of the community and a plea for God's forgiveness. It underscores the seriousness with which God views the taking of human life and the need for justice, even when the perpetrator is unknown.
Treatment of a Female Captive (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)
The next item involved an Israelite soldier who wanted to marry a woman among the captives from one of the cities outside of Canaan (Deuteronomy 21:11). This passage addresses the situation of an Israelite soldier desiring to marry a female captive taken in war. While such unions were permitted, the law provided specific guidelines to ensure the woman's dignity and protection. She was allowed to undergo a certain physical and spiritual ritual to separate her from her old life, including shaving her head, paring her nails, and changing her garments. She was also granted a month-long period of mourning for her father and mother (Deuteronomy 21:12-13)—either because they had been killed or in recognition of the fact that she would not be going back to them. This period allowed her to grieve and adjust to her new circumstances. After this period, the Israelite man could marry her. A provision was also made for divorce if the husband was not pleased with his wife, but he could not sell her or mistreat her in any way (Deuteronomy 21:14). Though other nations often brutally mistreated women during times of war, this law provided a woman of a subjugated country with protection if a soldier wanted her for a bride. This law, while reflecting the realities of ancient warfare, also demonstrates a concern for the well-being and rights of women, even those from enemy nations.
Inheritance Rights and the Firstborn Son (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
Discussion of marriage to a foreign captive led to another marriage issue, the case of polygamy and fathering sons by more than one wife. This section addresses the complex issue of inheritance rights in the context of polygamous marriages. Polygamy was tolerated in Old Testament times, but it was never God’s standard for marriage—which was to be between one man and one woman (see Genesis 2:22-24). Importantly, the culturally accepted practice of taking more than one wife always led to problems among God’s people. (See, for example, the experiences of grief that polygamy brought into the lives of Jacob, David, and Solomon.) Even if a man favored a son from a less-loved wife, he was still obligated to acknowledge and provide for his firstborn son, regardless of who his mother was. Fathers were strictly forbidden to play that game and were commanded to give their firstborn sons two shares of their estates, because those sons—whether or not their mothers held their fathers’ hearts—had the rights of the firstborn (Deuteronomy 21:17). The firstborn son was to receive a double portion of the inheritance, ensuring his status and responsibility within the family. This law aimed to prevent favoritism and maintain order and justice in family matters. Jealousy was just one of those problems; it could cause one wife to push her son forward as the favorite, even if he were not the firstborn.
Dealing with a Rebellious Son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
Next Moses dealt with another difficult family situation. This passage outlines the procedure for dealing with a stubbornly rebellious son who refuses to obey his parents and engages in dissolute behavior. It’s important to understand that this passage isn’t advocating the death penalty for mere juvenile delinquency. The son in view here was not a teenager who had been acting foolishly once in a while or fell into sassy speech on occasion. This was a son who, though his parents would discipline him, refused to repent of his rebellion (Deuteronomy 21:18). Instead, his stubborn and rebellious nature mirrored that of Egypt’s hard-hearted Pharaoh, and it even included his being known as a glutton and a drunkard (Deuteronomy 21:20). Such a son was to be brought before the elders of the city, and if they confirmed his incorrigible behavior, he was to be stoned to death by the community. Such rebellion was a capital offense in God’s eyes, because left unpunished it would destroy Israel’s home life and eventually the entire covenant community. The bottom line here is that this young man refused to submit to the Lord as his King and to his parents as his God-ordained authority. The elders of the parents’ city were to recognize the seriousness of this sin and stone the rebel themselves to purge the evil from Israel (Deuteronomy 21:20-21). Once again, Scripture uses the threat of capital punishment as a deterrent. This law, while harsh by modern standards, served as a deterrent to extreme rebellion and a means of protecting the community from the destructive influence of unrepentant wickedness. It also highlights the importance of parental authority and the need for children to respect and obey their parents.
Treatment of the Hanged Body (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
These verses describe a sentence reserved for those who received the death penalty. The final section addresses the treatment of the body of a person who had been executed and hung on a tree. Their bodies were hung on a tree—probably as a warning to others not to repeat whatever offense had led to their demise (Deuteronomy 21:22). But interestingly, the corpse could not be left there overnight because anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. To leave them there would defile the land (Deuteronomy 21:23). The law stipulated that the body must be taken down and buried the same day to avoid defiling the land. This was because "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). This verse is significant in the New Testament, as the Apostle Paul uses it to explain how Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). Undergoing God’s curse is what Jesus Christ did for us. But he died for our wrongs, not his. He redeemed us by his death on the cross—being hung on a tree—and enduring God’s curse against sin in our place (see Galatians 3:13). This act of obedience and sacrifice fulfilled the law and opened the way for salvation for all who believe.
Deuteronomy 21, therefore, is a rich tapestry of laws that reveal God's character and His desire for a just and compassionate society. It challenges us to consider the value of human life, the importance of family relationships, and the consequences of disobedience. Moreover, it points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the curse of the law on our behalf, offering us redemption and a new way of life.
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:
Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure 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 take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley:
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless 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 wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
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.
When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21 offers a glimpse into the comprehensive nature of God's law for the Israelites, demonstrating His concern for justice, purity, and the well-being of individuals and the community. This chapter covers a range of scenarios, from unsolved murders to the treatment of foreign captives, inheritance rights, rebellious children, and the handling of executed criminals. Through these diverse laws, we see God's desire for a society marked by fairness, compassion, and reverence for life. Let's delve into the details of each section.
Atonement for Unsolved Murder (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)
Moses makes it clear that no detail of Israel’s life escaped God’s notice and concern. The chapter begins with a chilling scenario: an unsolved murder (Deuteronomy 21:1). In such a case, the elders and judges of the nearest city were required to perform a specific ritual. This involved measuring the distance to the surrounding cities and sacrificing a heifer in a nearby valley with running water. The elders were then to wash their hands over the heifer and declare their innocence, asking God to not hold them accountable for the shedding of innocent blood. This unique ceremony was instituted to satisfy God's holiness and purge the land of the innocent blood spilled (Deuteronomy 21:9), because life was precious to God and because the victim’s blood had to be atoned for. This act served as a symbolic cleansing of the community and a plea for God's forgiveness. It underscores the seriousness with which God views the taking of human life and the need for justice, even when the perpetrator is unknown.
Treatment of a Female Captive (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)
The next item involved an Israelite soldier who wanted to marry a woman among the captives from one of the cities outside of Canaan (Deuteronomy 21:11). This passage addresses the situation of an Israelite soldier desiring to marry a female captive taken in war. While such unions were permitted, the law provided specific guidelines to ensure the woman's dignity and protection. She was allowed to undergo a certain physical and spiritual ritual to separate her from her old life, including shaving her head, paring her nails, and changing her garments. She was also granted a month-long period of mourning for her father and mother (Deuteronomy 21:12-13)—either because they had been killed or in recognition of the fact that she would not be going back to them. This period allowed her to grieve and adjust to her new circumstances. After this period, the Israelite man could marry her. A provision was also made for divorce if the husband was not pleased with his wife, but he could not sell her or mistreat her in any way (Deuteronomy 21:14). Though other nations often brutally mistreated women during times of war, this law provided a woman of a subjugated country with protection if a soldier wanted her for a bride. This law, while reflecting the realities of ancient warfare, also demonstrates a concern for the well-being and rights of women, even those from enemy nations.
Inheritance Rights and the Firstborn Son (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
Discussion of marriage to a foreign captive led to another marriage issue, the case of polygamy and fathering sons by more than one wife. This section addresses the complex issue of inheritance rights in the context of polygamous marriages. Polygamy was tolerated in Old Testament times, but it was never God’s standard for marriage—which was to be between one man and one woman (see Genesis 2:22-24). Importantly, the culturally accepted practice of taking more than one wife always led to problems among God’s people. (See, for example, the experiences of grief that polygamy brought into the lives of Jacob, David, and Solomon.) Even if a man favored a son from a less-loved wife, he was still obligated to acknowledge and provide for his firstborn son, regardless of who his mother was. Fathers were strictly forbidden to play that game and were commanded to give their firstborn sons two shares of their estates, because those sons—whether or not their mothers held their fathers’ hearts—had the rights of the firstborn (Deuteronomy 21:17). The firstborn son was to receive a double portion of the inheritance, ensuring his status and responsibility within the family. This law aimed to prevent favoritism and maintain order and justice in family matters. Jealousy was just one of those problems; it could cause one wife to push her son forward as the favorite, even if he were not the firstborn.
Dealing with a Rebellious Son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
Next Moses dealt with another difficult family situation. This passage outlines the procedure for dealing with a stubbornly rebellious son who refuses to obey his parents and engages in dissolute behavior. It’s important to understand that this passage isn’t advocating the death penalty for mere juvenile delinquency. The son in view here was not a teenager who had been acting foolishly once in a while or fell into sassy speech on occasion. This was a son who, though his parents would discipline him, refused to repent of his rebellion (Deuteronomy 21:18). Instead, his stubborn and rebellious nature mirrored that of Egypt’s hard-hearted Pharaoh, and it even included his being known as a glutton and a drunkard (Deuteronomy 21:20). Such a son was to be brought before the elders of the city, and if they confirmed his incorrigible behavior, he was to be stoned to death by the community. Such rebellion was a capital offense in God’s eyes, because left unpunished it would destroy Israel’s home life and eventually the entire covenant community. The bottom line here is that this young man refused to submit to the Lord as his King and to his parents as his God-ordained authority. The elders of the parents’ city were to recognize the seriousness of this sin and stone the rebel themselves to purge the evil from Israel (Deuteronomy 21:20-21). Once again, Scripture uses the threat of capital punishment as a deterrent. This law, while harsh by modern standards, served as a deterrent to extreme rebellion and a means of protecting the community from the destructive influence of unrepentant wickedness. It also highlights the importance of parental authority and the need for children to respect and obey their parents.
Treatment of the Hanged Body (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
These verses describe a sentence reserved for those who received the death penalty. The final section addresses the treatment of the body of a person who had been executed and hung on a tree. Their bodies were hung on a tree—probably as a warning to others not to repeat whatever offense had led to their demise (Deuteronomy 21:22). But interestingly, the corpse could not be left there overnight because anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. To leave them there would defile the land (Deuteronomy 21:23). The law stipulated that the body must be taken down and buried the same day to avoid defiling the land. This was because "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). This verse is significant in the New Testament, as the Apostle Paul uses it to explain how Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). Undergoing God’s curse is what Jesus Christ did for us. But he died for our wrongs, not his. He redeemed us by his death on the cross—being hung on a tree—and enduring God’s curse against sin in our place (see Galatians 3:13). This act of obedience and sacrifice fulfilled the law and opened the way for salvation for all who believe.
Deuteronomy 21, therefore, is a rich tapestry of laws that reveal God's character and His desire for a just and compassionate society. It challenges us to consider the value of human life, the importance of family relationships, and the consequences of disobedience. Moreover, it points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the curse of the law on our behalf, offering us redemption and a new way of life.