Deuteronomy 18-21

“One witness is not enough to convict anyone ... A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (19:15). The Israelites were going to live in the Promised Land as ordinary sinful humans. Knowing that they would fall into all kinds of trouble (such as false witness to a crime), the Law was God’s gift, a guide to righteousness and a way to limit harm. In family relationships, marriage, at war, in cases of manslaughter and murder (ch 19-20), the Israelites knew God’s will for their time.

Deuteronomy’s laws demonstrated that every aspect of Israelite life had one calling: “To love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him” (19:9).