If the one tried for murder were proved guilty, no atonement or ransom could rescue him. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Genesis 9:6. "Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death." "Thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die," was the command of God; "the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." Numbers 35:31, 33; Exodus 21:14. The safety and purity of the nation demanded that the sin of murder be severely punished. Human life, which God alone could give, must be sacredly guarded.

Det var Kristus, der gav Moses disse love til Israel, og da Den store Lærer selv var hos sine disciple på Jorden og lærte dem, hvorledes man skal behandle dem, der fejler, gentog han, at eet menneskes vidnesbyrd ikke er tilstrækkeligt til at frikende eller dømme. Stridsspørgsmål skal ikke afgøres på grundlag af eet menneskes synspunkter og meninger. I alle sådanne tilfælde kræves der to eller flere vidners udsagn, og disse skal dele ansvaret, for at "enhver sag kan blive afgjort efter to eller tre vidners udsagn". Matt. 18, 16.