The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
The witnesses who testified against the guilty person must be the first ones to carry out the death sentence, and then all the people must participate. This is how you must remove evil from your community.
This verse establishes that witnesses in capital cases must take responsibility by participating first in the execution, ensuring the community removes evil from among them.
📚 Historical Context
This command was part of Moses' instructions to the Israelites about establishing a just legal system in the Promised Land. In ancient Israel, witnesses had to take personal responsibility for their testimony by participating in the punishment, which helped prevent false accusations. This was part of God's law to create a holy community set apart from the corrupt practices of surrounding nations.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.