Deuteronomy 17:2-7·~1 min

Purge the Idolater

If someone in Israel is found worshiping forbidden gods or the host of heaven, the report must not be handled lightly. The matter is to be heard and investigated thoroughly.

I²f a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant ³and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven— which I have forbidden— ⁴and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly.

If the charge proves true, the guilty person is to be executed at the gates on the testimony of two or three witnesses. The witnesses begin the act, and the community completes it, purging the evil from among them.

⁵If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel, you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death. ⁶On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness. ⁷The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Section summaryMoses addresses the case of a man or woman who breaks the covenant by worshiping other gods. The charge must be investigated carefully, confirmed by multiple witnesses, and answered publicly so the evil is removed from Israel.

Role in the chapterThis section applies covenant loyalty to the most serious breach in Israel's life with God. It joins severe judgment to procedural caution, showing that zeal alone is not enough.