“…and it is told to you, or you hear about it; then you are to investigate the matter diligently. If it is true, if it is confirmed that such detestable things are being done in Israel; then you are to bring the man or woman who has done this wicked thing to your city gates, and stone that man or woman to death. The death sentence is to be carried out only if there was testimony from two or three witnesses; he may not be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness. The witnesses are to be the first to stone him to death; afterwards, all the people are to stone him. Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you.”-Deuteronomy 17:4-7
From verse 4, we are given an explanation of the procedures the judges and officials are to obey when dealing with an individual accused of idolatry.
The first step is that as soon as the charge of idolatry is brought to the local officials, a thorough investigation must be undertaken.
After the investigation, if the accused is found guilty, then he or she is to be publicly stoned to death.
Pretty darn harsh, isn’t it?
However, understand that these procedures were NOT to apply to all possible violations of the law.
It’s just that since the charge of idolatry is so serious because the only available punishment for idolatry is death, a thorough investigation must be conducted BEFORE going ahead with the execution of the idolater.
Notice the following words contained in the judicial procedures:
“…and it is told to you, or you hear about it.”
What’s being implied here is that it doesn’t matter whether the judge heard about the charge of idolatry directly from a respected and responsible member of the community or whether it’s just a rumor floating around.
No matter how the charge was brought to the attention of the authorities, there must be an investigation.
And how is the investigation to begin?
No less than two witnesses must come forward.
There are two key differences between a Biblical witness and a modern witness who sits in the jury of a court in our day and age.
FIRST, in Bible times pretty much all of the witnesses were also the accusers.
In our courts today, we have what are called “3rd party witnesses” who appear to testify as to DNA evidence, the certain make of a car, or provide their professional opinion on the medical nature of certain injuries etcetera.
These witnesses are called upon because of their expertise and NOT because they were directly involved with the crime being judged.
On the other hand, pretty much all witnesses in the Bible are what we would call “eyewitnesses” meaning they were present when the crime was committed and actually saw what happened with their own two eyes.
SECOND, a Biblical witness also served as the executioner in all capital crime cases.
Notice verse 7…
“The witnesses are to be the first to stone him to death; afterwards, all the people are to stone him. Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you.”
Well, there you have it.
We are clearly told that…
…the witnesses will be the first ones to cast the stones and then after that the entire community will join in and finish the job.
Think about this for a second.
The Lord has injected some incredibly ingenious psychology into this protocol.
Why do I say that?
Well, let’s say for instance a witness comes forward and flat out lies.
He gives a totally false testimony in a capital case that leads to the death of an innocent person.
According to the Torah, what does that mean?
It means the witness who gave the false testimony has now literally become a murderer…
…and as a result, will in turn be executed himself.
According to the Torah, he is guilty of innocent blood.
Do you know what the Biblical consequences of being guilty of innocent blood are?
It means the liar who gave the false testimony will be subject to BOTH physical and spiritual death.
When I say “spiritual death”, I’m talking about KARET or being “cut off” from the Lord forever in the next life.
There is nothing that could be more terrifying.
That is why the Torah protocol of making the witnesses also the executioners is ingenious because it puts a safeguard in place to discourage rash and/or false testimonies.
Recall the woman accused of adultery who was brought to Yeshua.
When Yeshua said, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone”, he was applying this very Torah principle right here.
He wasn’t willy nilly forgiving her of the sin of adultery according to the ridiculous totally-ignorant-of-the-Torah BS Christian interpretation of the event.
The truth is she wasn’t even accused of adultery because no witnesses even came forward man!
The men accusing her knew darn well that if they gave false testimony it would be their blood that would be called for by the Lord.
Messiah Yeshua’s response was a master move on his part.
Onward.
Notice that the execution of the idolator is to be a pubic affair.
The entire community was to pick up stones to execute the rightfully accused.
This was a bloody and graphic event that took place out in the open for anyone to see.
Again, the Lord’s wisdom is at work here.
God does NOT take pleasure in the death of the wicked and neither should we.
By having the entire community participate in the execution, the ugliness of the sin of idolatry and its terrible consequences were brought home to each and every member of the community.
Afterwards, this would also serve as a strong deterrent against anyone from even thinking of committing an idolatrous act against the Lord.
Finally, having the entire community commit the execution meant that the entire community also affirmed God’s justice system.
It was a strong statement from the community that they were in unison in their acknowledgment that indeed highhanded evil had been committed and that they had come together to purge the wicked idolator from their society.
According to the Lord, this is what the job of human government is really all about.
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