Deuteronomy 21:1–9

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: ²then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: ³and it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; ⁴and 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: ⁵and the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for ^athem the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and ^bby their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried: ⁶and all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, ^cshall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: ⁷and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. ⁸Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, ^dand lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. ⁹So ^eshalt 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.