Deuteronomy 19

The reading today reiterates the laws about murder and accidental killings, along with the cities of refuge. One thing that I know has been mentioned before, but which struck me as I read, is that a single witness was not enough to convict a wrongdoer - apparently of any crime. That must have made judging a bit easier, but at the same time the punishment for a false witness was harsh to prevent people from making up accusations: they would be dealt with as the person who was on trial. Imagine if false witnesses in murder trials today were put to death; I should think that would make others think twice before lying under oath, which appears to have been the goal of the law that God put in place here.