1 When one is found dead in the land which the LORD thy God gives thee to inherit, lying in the field, and it is not known who has 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 dead; 3 and it shall be that the elders of the city which is next unto the dead man shall take a heifer, which has not served, and which has not drawn in the yoke; 4 and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which has neither been plowed nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley. 5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for the LORD thy God has chosen them to minister unto him and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be determined. 6 And all the elders of that closest city next to the dead man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley. 7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Reconcile thy people Israel, whom thou hast ransomed, O LORD, and impute not the innocent blood shed in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them. 9 So shalt 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.