Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

1  כִּי־ (If) יִמָּצֵ֣א (is found) חָלָ֗ל (one slain) בָּאֲדָמָה֙ (in the land) אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (your God) נֹתֵ֤ן (is giving) לְךָ֙ (you) לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ (to possess), נֹפֵ֖ל (lying) בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה (in the field), לֹ֥א (and not) נוֹדַ֖ע (it is known) מִ֥י (who) הִכָּֽהוּ׃ (killed him). 2  וְיָצְא֥וּ (Then shall go out), זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ (your elders) וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָ (and your judges), וּמָדְדוּ֙ (and measure) אֶל־ (to) הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (the cities) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that are) סְבִיבֹ֥ת (surrounding) הֶחָלָֽל׃ (from the slain one).

3  וְהָיָ֣ה (And it shall be that) הָעִ֔יר (the city) הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה (nearest) אֶל־ (to) הֶחָלָ֑ל (the slain man) וְלָֽקְח֡וּ (and will take) זִקְנֵי֩ (the elders) הָעִ֨יר (of the city) הַהִ֜וא (that) עֶגְלַ֣ת (a heifer) בָּקָ֗ר (of the herd), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) לֹֽא־ (not) עֻבַּד֙ (has been worked) בָּ֔הּ (in it) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (and which) לֹא־ (not) מָשְׁכָ֖ה (has pulled) בְּעֹֽל׃ (with a yoke), 4  וְהוֹרִ֡דוּ (and shall bring down) זִקְנֵי֩ (the elders) הָעִ֨יר (of the city) הַהִ֤וא (that) אֶת־ (-) הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ (the heifer) אֶל־ (to) נַ֣חַל (a valley) אֵיתָ֔ן (enduring), אֲשֶׁ֛ר (which) לֹא־ (neither) יֵעָבֵ֥ד (is plowed) בּ֖וֹ (in it) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִזָּרֵ֑עַ (sown), וְעָֽרְפוּ־ (and they shall break the neck) שָׁ֥ם (there) אֶת־ (-) הָעֶגְלָ֖ה (of the heifer) בַּנָּֽחַל׃ (in the valley).

5  וְנִגְּשׁ֣וּ (And shall come near) הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ (the priests), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) לֵוִי֒ (of Levi); כִּ֣י (for) בָ֗ם (them) בָּחַ֞ר (has chosen) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God) לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ (to serve) וּלְבָרֵ֖ךְ (and to bless) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (in the name) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וְעַל־ (and by) פִּיהֶ֥ם (their mouth) יִהְיֶ֖ה (shall be settled) כָּל־ (every) רִ֥יב (controversy) וְכָל־ (and every) נָֽגַע׃ (assault). 6  וְכֹ֗ל (And all) זִקְנֵי֙ (the elders) הָעִ֣יר (of the city) הַהִ֔וא (that) הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים (nearest) אֶל־ (to) הֶחָלָ֑ל (the slain one) יִרְחֲצוּ֙ (shall wash) אֶת־ (-) יְדֵיהֶ֔ם (their hands) עַל־ (over) הָעֶגְלָ֖ה (the heifer) הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה (whose neck was broken) בַנָּֽחַל׃ (in the valley), 7  וְעָנ֖וּ (and they shall answer) וְאָמְר֑וּ (and say), יָדֵ֗ינוּ (Our hands) לֹ֤א (not) שָׁפְכָה (have shed) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּ֣ם (the blood) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ (and our eyes) לֹ֥א (not) רָאֽוּ׃ (have seen it). 8  כַּפֵּר֩ (Receive atonement) לְעַמְּךָ֨ (for Your people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (Israel), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) פָּדִ֙יתָ֙ (You have redeemed), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), וְאַל־ (and not) תִּתֵּן֙ (do lay) דָּ֣ם (blood) נָקִ֔י (innocent) בְּקֶ֖רֶב (in the midst) עַמְּךָ֣ (of Your people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel).

וְנִכַּפֵּ֥ר (And atonement shall be provided) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) הַדָּֽם׃ (for the blood). 9  וְאַתָּ֗ה (And you) תְּבַעֵ֛ר (shall remove) הַדָּ֥ם (the blood) הַנָּקִ֖י (innocent) מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ (from among you) כִּֽי־ (when) תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (you do) הַיָּשָׁ֖ר (right) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

Marrying a Captive Woman

10  כִּֽי־ (When) תֵצֵ֥א (you go out) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to war) עַל־ (against) אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (your enemies), וּנְתָנ֞וֹ (and delivers them) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (your God) בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ (into your hand), וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ (and you have taken captive) שִׁבְיֽוֹ׃ (its captivity), 11  וְרָאִיתָ֙ (and you see) בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה (among the captives) אֵ֖שֶׁת (a woman) יְפַת־ (beautiful) תֹּ֑אַר (in appearance), וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ (and you have delighted) בָ֔הּ (in her) וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ (and would take) לְךָ֖ (her) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (as your wife), 12  וַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ (and you shall bring her) אֶל־ (into) תּ֣וֹךְ (the midst) בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ (of your household), וְגִלְּחָה֙ (and she shall shave) אֶת־ (-) רֹאשָׁ֔הּ (her head) וְעָשְׂתָ֖ה (and trim) אֶת־ (-) צִפָּרְנֶֽיהָ׃ (her nails), 13  וְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ (and she shall remove) אֶת־ (-) שִׂמְלַ֨ת (the clothes) שִׁבְיָ֜הּ (of her captivity) מֵעָלֶ֗יהָ (from her) וְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ (and remain) בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ (in your house) וּבָֽכְתָ֛ה (and mourn) אֶת־ (-) אָבִ֥יהָ (her father) וְאֶת־ (and) אִמָּ֖הּ (her mother) יֶ֣רַח (a month) יָמִ֑ים (full).

וְאַ֨חַר (And after) כֵּ֜ן (that) תָּב֤וֹא (you may go in) אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ (to her) וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּ (and be her husband), וְהָיְתָ֥ה (and she shall be) לְךָ֖ (to you) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (wife). 14  וְהָיָ֞ה (And it shall be), אִם־ (if) לֹ֧א (not) חָפַ֣צְתָּ (you have delight) בָּ֗הּ (in her) וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ (and you send her away) לְנַפְשָׁ֔הּ (at her desire); וּמָכֹ֥ר (and surely) לֹא־ (not) תִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּה (you shall sell her) בַּכָּ֑סֶף (for silver), לֹא־ (and not) תִתְעַמֵּ֣ר (you shall treat brutally) בָּ֔הּ (her), תַּ֖חַת (upon) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עִנִּיתָֽהּ׃ס (you have humbled her).

Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn

15  כִּֽי־ (If) תִהְיֶ֨יןָ (has) לְאִ֜ישׁ (a man) שְׁתֵּ֣י (two) נָשִׁ֗ים (wives), הָאַחַ֤ת (one) אֲהוּבָה֙ (loved) וְהָאַחַ֣ת (and one) שְׂנוּאָ֔ה (hated), וְיָֽלְדוּ־ (and they have borne) ל֣וֹ (to him) בָנִ֔ים (sons) הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה (the loved) וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה (and the hated), וְהָיָ֛ה (and is) הַבֵּ֥ן (the son) הַבְּכ֖וֹר (the firstborn is) לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃ (to the hated one), 16  וְהָיָ֗ה (then it shall come to pass) בְּיוֹם֙ (on the day) הַנְחִיל֣וֹ (he assigns his inheritance) אֶת־ (-) בָּנָ֔יו (to his sons) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יִהְיֶ֖ה (are) ל֑וֹ (to him), לֹ֣א (that not) יוּכַ֗ל (must he bestow) לְבַכֵּר֙ (firstborn status on) אֶת־ (-) בֶּן־ (the son) הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה (of the loved wife) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) בֶן־ (of the son) הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה (of the hated one), הַבְּכֹֽר׃ (the firstborn).

17  כִּי֩ (But) אֶת־ (-) הַבְּכֹ֨ר (the firstborn) בֶּן־ (son) הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה (of the hated wife) יַכִּ֗יר (he shall acknowledge) לָ֤תֶת (by giving) לוֹ֙ (him) פִּ֣י (a portion) שְׁנַ֔יִם (double) בְּכֹ֥ל (of all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יִמָּצֵ֖א (is found) ל֑וֹ (to him), כִּי־ (for) הוּא֙ (he is) רֵאשִׁ֣ית (the beginning) אֹנ֔וֹ (of his strength); ל֖וֹ (to him is) מִשְׁפַּ֥ט (the right) הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ס (of the firstborn).

A Rebellious Son
(Luke 15:11–32)

18  כִּֽי־ (If) יִהְיֶ֣ה (has) לְאִ֗ישׁ (a man) בֵּ֚ן (a son) סוֹרֵ֣ר (stubborn) וּמוֹרֶ֔ה (and rebellious), אֵינֶ֣נּוּ (not) שֹׁמֵ֔עַ (who will listen) בְּק֥וֹל (to the voice) אָבִ֖יו (of his father) וּבְק֣וֹל (or the voice) אִמּ֑וֹ (of his mother), וְיסְּר֣וּ (and they have disciplined) אֹת֔וֹ (him) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִשְׁמַ֖ע (he will listen) אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (to them), 19  וְתָ֥פְשׂוּ (then shall take hold) ב֖וֹ (of him) אָבִ֣יו (his father) וְאִמּ֑וֹ (and his mother) וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ (and bring out) אֹת֛וֹ (him) אֶל־ (to) זִקְנֵ֥י (the elders) עִיר֖וֹ (of his city), וְאֶל־ (and to) שַׁ֥עַר (the gate) מְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (of his city), 20  וְאָמְר֞וּ (and they shall say) אֶל־ (to) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) עִיר֗וֹ (of his city), בְּנֵ֤נוּ (Our son) זֶה֙ (this) סוֹרֵ֣ר (is stubborn) וּמֹרֶ֔ה (and rebellious); אֵינֶ֥נּוּ (not) שֹׁמֵ֖עַ (he will listen) בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ (to our voice); זוֹלֵ֖ל (he is a glutton) וְסֹבֵֽא׃ (and a drunkard).

21  וּ֠רְגָמֻהוּ (And shall stone him to death) כָּל־ (all) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) עִיר֤וֹ (of his city) בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ (with stones) וָמֵ֔ת (and to death); וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ (and you shall put away) הָרָ֖ע (the evil) מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ (from among you), וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) יִשְׁמְע֥וּ (shall listen) וְיִרָֽאוּ׃ס (and fear).

Cursed Is Anyone Hung on a Tree

22  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִהְיֶ֣ה (has committed) בְאִ֗ישׁ (a man) חֵ֛טְא (a sin) מִשְׁפַּט־ (deserving) מָ֖וֶת (of death), וְהוּמָ֑ת (and he is put to death), וְתָלִ֥יתָ (and you hang) אֹת֖וֹ (him) עַל־ (on) עֵֽץ׃ (a tree), 23  לֹא־ (not) תָלִ֨ין (shall remain overnight) נִבְלָת֜וֹ (his body) עַל־ (on) הָעֵ֗ץ (the tree), כִּֽי־ (but) קָב֤וֹר (burying) תִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙ (you shall bury) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַה֔וּא (him), כִּֽי־ (for) קִלְלַ֥ת (is cursed) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) תָּל֑וּי (is he who is hanged), וְלֹ֤א (so that not) תְטַמֵּא֙ (you defile) אֶת־ (-) אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ (the land) אֲשֶׁר֙ (that) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God) נֹתֵ֥ן (is giving) לְךָ֖ (to you) נַחֲלָֽה׃ס (as an inheritance).