Deuteronomy 21:5

The priests the sons of Levi [United with] shall come near; for them Adonai your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in Adonai’s name; and according to their word shall every controversy and every assault be decided.

One Unity Resource Bible

In The King James Version

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:

In Context

4+ 21:4. Deut 21:4 (Deut 21:1-9) (#6.412): To break the red heifer’s neck in the valley for atonement of an unsolved murder The leaders of that town are to bring the heifer down to a valley with a stream in it that never dries up, to a place that is neither plowed nor sown; + 21:4. Deut 21:4 (Deut 21:1-9) (#6.413): Not to till nor sow the riverbed where the heifer was slaughtered for atonement of an unsolved murder / R. Note: The Rabbis clarify the red heifer is “decapitated” and they are to break the cow’s neck there in the valley

6All the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. (Maftir ·Conclusion·)

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

Cross References

Leviticus 9:22Aaron [Light-bringer] lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the habitual sin ·miss the mark· offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

Deuteronomy 10:8At that time Adonai set apart the tribe of Levi [United with], to bear the ark of Adonai’s covenant, to stand before Adonai to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.

Deuteronomy 17:9You shall come to the priests who are Levites [Descendants of United with], and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the mishpat ·verdict·.

Deuteronomy 19:17+ 19:17. Deut 19:17 (Deut 19:16-21) (#9.571): T. If one witness who testifies against another but is found to be a false witness, you shall apply the intended punishment to the false witness (this is found in full context (v16-19)) / R. A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes T. Reason: “In this way, you will put an end to such wickedness among you” (v19) then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Adonai, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days;

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:2-10

Undetected Murder. ( b. c. 1451.) 1 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: 2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: 3 And 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; 4 And the elders of… Read the whole commentary →

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