Deuteronomy 21

The slain heifer for innocent blood

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; Deuteronomy 21:3–7

An unworked, unyoked heifer died so that the guilt of innocent blood would not rest on the people — a soft likeness of an innocent life given to clear the guilty. The Hebrew of the prayer that follows is literally 'Let atonement be made for thy people Israel.' The hand-washing and 'our hands have not shed this blood' return at Christ's trial, when Pilate washed his hands of the blood of Jesus.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Matthew 27:24 — Pilate 'took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person.'

The LORD who redeemed Israel

Redeemer — one who buys back and frees

Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. Deuteronomy 21:8

Israel pleads for mercy from the LORD who redeemed them — the Hebrew is 'let atonement be made' — and the blood guilt is forgiven. Jehovah the Redeemer is Jesus Christ, whose own blood makes that forgiveness possible.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• the same title in Isaiah 54:5 — 'thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel' — the same covenant title for Jehovah.
• alluded to by D&C 84:99 — 'The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel' — the same words sung of the Lord's final redemption (footnote note8_b).

Accused as a glutton and a drunkard

And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. Deuteronomy 21:20

The charge that marked a son as worthy of death is the very insult thrown at Jesus by His critics. The perfectly obedient Son was slandered in the words of the law's rebellious son.

How we know: proposed by the reading

• alluded to by Matthew 11:19 — 'The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber.'

Hanged on a tree, made a curse for us

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: Deuteronomy 21:22–23

Paul quotes this law to teach that Christ took our curse upon Himself when He was hanged on the cross, redeeming us from the curse of the law. His body, too, was taken down and buried before night, exactly as this law required.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• quoted by Galatians 3:13 — 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'
• alluded to by John 19:31 — The Jews besought Pilate that the bodies 'should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day' — this law at Christ's burial (footnote note23_b).
• alluded to by Acts 5:30 — 'Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.'
• alluded to by 1 Peter 2:24 — 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.'