Purpose of the Beheaded Heifer Ritual/2

Purpose of the Beheaded Heifer Ritual

Exegetical Approaches

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Discover the Killer

The goal of the ritual is to publicize the murder so as to more easily find the culprit.

Sources:Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)Devarim 21:1:1-9About Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan),R. Yosef Bekhor ShorDevarim 21:1-9About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambamHilkhot Rotzeach uShemirat haNefesh 9Hilkhot Rotzeach uShemirat haNefesh 10Moreh Nevukhim 3:40About R. Moshe b. Maimon, ChizkuniDevarim 21:2-9About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach, Sefer HaChinukh530About Sefer HaChinukh, R. BachyaDevarim 21:1-9About R. Bachya b. Asher

Atonement

To Cleanse the Land

To Cleanse the Elders

Prevent Scapegoating

Sources:ShadalDevarim 21:1-7About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto #2