Deuteronomy 17:4

4 If someone has told you about it, you must look into the matter carefully. If it is true that such a hateful thing has happened in Israel,

Deuteronomy 17:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 17:4

And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired
diligently
A report of this kind was not to be neglected; though it was not to be concluded upon as certain by hearsay, it was to be looked into, and the persons that brought it thoroughly examined; so the Targum of Jonathan,

``and inquired the witnesses well,''

what proof and evidence they could give of the fact, who the persons were, when and where, and in what manner the sin was committed:

and, behold, [it be] true, [and] the thing certain;
upon examining the witnesses the case is plain and out of all question:

that such abomination is wrought in Israel;
to do it in any country was abominable, but much more so in the land of Israel, among the professing people of God, who had the knowledge of the true God, and had had so many proofs of his deity, his power and providence, as well as received so many favours and blessings from him, and had such laws and statutes given them as no other people had.

Deuteronomy 17:4 In-Context

2 A man or woman in one of the towns the Lord gave you might be found doing something evil and breaking the Agreement.

3 That person may have served other gods and bowed down to them or to the sun or moon or stars of the sky, which I have commanded should not be done.

4 If someone has told you about it, you must look into the matter carefully. If it is true that such a hateful thing has happened in Israel,

5 take the man or woman who has done the evil thing to the city gates and throw stones at that person until he dies.

6 There must be two or three witnesses that it is true before the person is put to death; if there is only one witness, the person should not be put to death.