Deuteronomy 17:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Capital punishment could only be imposed based on the evidence provided by two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:6 cf. Num. 35:30). ‘The hand of the witnesses shall be upon him first to kill him, then the hand of all the people’ (Deuteronomy 17:7). This principle, which mandates that the witnesses also serve as the first executors, is established to discourage false accusations. If a false accuser is revealed to be the executioner, they put themselves in danger of severe retribution from the family and friends of the deceased.