only one witness and a crime has been committed, Israel must trust in the providence of God to bring about justice. At least two or three witnesses are required to establish the evidence. Also, there must be protection from malicious witnesses (vv. 16–19). The accused and the accuser must stand before a panel of justices made up of priests and judges when a thorough investigation is called for. When the testimony is found to be perjured, the malicious witness is liable according to the lex talionis,