Deuteronomy 21:1-6 ▼

1 “If someone is found slain, lying in the field, in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess, and it is not known who has killed him,

2 then your elders and judges shall go out and measure the distance to the cities which are around the dead person.

3 It shall be that the elders of the city which is nearest to the dead man shall take a heifer of the herd, one which has not been worked and which has not pulled in a yoke;

4 and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a [river] valley with running water, which has not been plowed or planted, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.

5 Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall approach, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the Name (Presence) of the LORD; and every dispute and every assault (violent crime) shall be settled by them.

6 All the elders of that city nearest to the dead man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;