2. then your elders and your judges are to come forth, and they must measure how far it is to the cities which are around him who was slain.
3. And it must be, that the city which is closest to the slain man, that is, the elders of that city shall take a heifer which has not been worked, that has never pulled in yoke,
4. and the elders of that city must bring down the heifer to a valley with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.
5. Then the priests, the sons of Levi, must come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him, and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every controversy and every assault will be settled.
6. And all the elders of that city, which is nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.
7. Then they must answer and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes have not seen it.
8. Be merciful, O Lord, to Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and lay not innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel.” And the blood guilt will be forgiven them.
9. In this way you are to remove the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord.
10. When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,