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Deuteronomy 21 · Grade 4

Innocent Blood and a Tree

Name Date

Read and Think

Deuteronomy 21 opens with an unsolved murder. A killing made the land unclean, even when no one knew the killer. So the elders of the nearest town offered a heifer and washed their hands. They said they were innocent and asked God to forgive His people. The whole town took responsibility for justice.

Other laws protected the weak in families. A woman taken captive in war must have a month to mourn, and she could not be sold as a slave. A man with two wives could not take the double portion from his firstborn son. A stubborn son who was a glutton and a drunkard faced the elders. Israel took honoring parents very seriously.

The chapter ends with a law that points to the cross. A man hanged on a tree must be buried the same day, for he is cursed by God. Paul quotes this in Galatians 3:13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

Show What You Know

  1. Why did the community act when a killer was unknown?

  2. How was a captive woman protected?

  3. What could a man with two wives not do?

  4. How does Paul use 21:23?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

eldersforgivefirstbornGod
  1. So the of the nearest town offered a heifer and washed their hands.
  2. They said they were innocent and asked God to His people.
  3. A man with two wives could not take the double portion from his son.
  4. A man hanged on a tree must be buried the same day, for he is cursed by .

Think About It

  1. Why does God care about justice even when no one knows who did wrong?

  2. How does Galatians 3:13 help you understand what Jesus did on the cross?

Memory Verse

“So you shall put away the innocent blood from among you, when you shall do that which is right in Yahweh’s eyes.”

Deuteronomy 21:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being just. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did God care about justice even when no one knew who did wrong?
  • How does Jesus on the tree connect to this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.