Lyrics

They Shall Break The Heifer’s Neck

© 2025 Issachar Tal van Kekem

Chorus:
The elders of the city shall take a heifer
And they shall break its neck
So the Lord our God will not lack…

When the corpse of a man or woman is found in the Land,
And that person was not taken by the Angel of Death’s holy hand,
But his soul was stolen from its body by murder,
Then the elders of the city shall take a heifer
And they shall break its neck
So the Lord our God will not lack:
The soul of man is to be returned to its Maker,
Is to be returned by the holy Taker
For HE must bring the soul before the Heavenly Court.

Chorus:
The elders of the city shall take a heifer
And they shall break its neck
So the Lord our God will not lack…

So, the heifer is offered to the Angel of Death, as compensation,
In order to prevent an accusation
From being brought against all of creation

The Land will not be purged of the blood that was spilled upon it
Other than by the blood of the one who spilled it,
And so, if and when the murderer is found,
He must be surrendered to the Angel of Death, justly bound,
To be accused and punished.
While the nearest of his kin will make good for the heifer

Chorus:
The elders of the city shall take a heifer
And they shall break its neck
So the Lord our God will not lack…