Deu 21:7 | KD | STEP | The elders of the town were to wash their hands over the slain heifer, i.e., to cleanse themselves by this symbolical act from the suspicion of any guilt on the part of the inhabitants of the town in the murder that had been committed (cf. ; ; ), and then answer (to the charge involved in what had taken place), and say, “ Our hands have not shed this blood (on the singular שׁפכה, see Ewald , §317, a .), and our eyes have not seen ” (sc., the shedding of blood), i.e., we have neither any part in the crime nor any knowledge of it: “ grant forgiveness (lit., 'cover up,' viz., the blood-guiltiness) to Thy people...and give not innocent blood in the midst of Thy people Israel ,” i.e., lay not upon us the innocent blood that has been shed by imputation and punishment. “ And the blood shall be forgiven them ,” i.e., the bloodshed or murder shall not be imputed to them. On נכּפּר, a mixed form from the Niphal and Hithpael, see Ges. §55, and Ewald , §132, c .

‏ Deuteronomy 21:7

The elders of the town were to wash their hands over the slain heifer, i.e., to cleanse themselves by this symbolical act from the suspicion of any guilt on the part of the inhabitants of the town in the murder that had been committed (cf. Psa 26:6; Psa 73:13; Mat 27:24), and then answer (to the charge involved in what had taken place), and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood (on the singular שׁפכה, see Ewald, §317, a.), and our eyes have not seen” (sc., the shedding of blood), i.e., we have neither any part in the crime nor any knowledge of it: “grant forgiveness (lit., 'cover up,' viz., the blood-guiltiness) to Thy people...and give not innocent blood in the midst of Thy people Israel,” i.e., lay not upon us the innocent blood that has been shed by imputation and punishment. “And the blood shall be forgiven them,” i.e., the bloodshed or murder shall not be imputed to them. On נכּפּר, a mixed form from the Niphal and Hithpael, see Ges. §55, and Ewald, §132, c.