And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
The city that is closest to where the murdered person was found—the leaders of that city must take a young cow that has never been used for work and has never worn a yoke.
The writer is explaining that when someone is murdered and the killer is unknown, the nearest city's leaders must provide a young, unused cow for a special ceremony.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of ancient Israel's law for dealing with unsolved murders found in rural areas. When a body was discovered between cities and no one knew who committed the crime, God provided a specific ritual to address the bloodshed and maintain justice in the community. The requirement for an unused heifer emphasized the sacred nature of the ceremony—only something pure and set apart could be used in this ritual of atonement.
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