NUM427 Blood-guilt required expiation with blood. In the case of an untraced and unavenged murder, the blood was "covered" or "wiped away" by means of a symbolic right of expiation (Deuteronomy 21:1-9). Deuteronomy 32:43 announces that the defilement of the land, caused by the slaughter of Israelites, will be removed by God's avenging their blood upon their enemies, thus making expiation for the land of His people. [This verse] lays down the principle that "no expiration can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but the blood of him who shed it." Consequently money compensation was ruled out in cases of murder. S.H. Langdon, H.E.R.E., V, p. 654. Offenses other than manslaughter could be propitiated by means of a gift, whether in the form of a sacrifice or a "forfeit money" (asham) and of "sin-money" (hattat) which were given to the priests in order to satisfy the offended God (II Kings 12:17; Amos 2:8).