Deuteronomy 21:1-9
Expiation of a Crime
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;
7 and they shall respond, and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.
8 Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, O Lord, and do not put the guilt of innocent blood among Your people Israel.’ And the guilt of blood shall be forgiven them.
9 So shall you remove the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.