Important legal agreements required the attestation of witnesses, as in the case of the purchase of property, or a betrothal ( Ruth 4:1-11, where we are told that the ancient form of attestation was by a man drawing off his shoe and giving it to his neighbor). The main use of the word is forensic, and from this use all other applications are naturally derived. the heap of stones testifying to the covenant between Jacob and Laban ( Genesis 31:44-54), and the So of Moses. Wit'-nes (nouns `edh, and `edhah, and verb `anah martus, with all derivative words and their compounds): The word "witness" is used of inanimate things, e.g. ( Numbers 9:15 2 Chronicles 24:6, the Revised Version (British and American) "the tent of the testimony"). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia FALSE SWEARING FALSE WITNESS Hence it is that the use of the ecclesiastical term ("martyr." the Greek word for "witness," has arisen. In the New Testament the original notion of a witness is exhibited in the special form of one who attests his belief in the gospel by personal suffering. According to Josephus, women and slaves were not admitted to bear testimony.In case of an animal left in charge and torn by wild beasts, the keeper was to bring the carcass in proof of the fact and disproof of his own criminality.The witnesses were the first executioners.Slanderous reports and officious witness are discouraged.False witness was punished with the penalty due to the offence which it sought to establish.The witness who withheld the truth was censured.In the case of the suspected wife, evidence besides the husband's was desired.Two witnesses at least are required to establish any charge.Among special provisions with respect to evidence are the following: ( Isaiah 8:16 Jeremiah 32:10-16) On the whole the law was very careful to provide and enforce evidence for all its infractions and all transactions bearing on them. ( 24:1,3) In civil contracts, at least in later times documentary evidence was required and carefully preserved. Divorce was to be proved by a written document. ( Joshua 22:10,26,34 24:26,27) But written evidence was by no means unknown to the Jews. Joshua set up a stone as an evidence of the allegiance promised by Israel to God. ( Genesis 21:30 31:47,52) The tribes of Reuben and Gad raised an "altar" as a witness to the covenant between themselves and the rest of the nation. Jacob raised a heap of stones, "the heap of witness." as a boundary-mark between himself and Laban. Among people with whom writing is not common the evidence of a transaction is given by some tangible memorial or significant ceremony: Abraham gave seven ewe-lambs to Abimelech as an evidence of his property in the well of Beersheba.
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