The law was specific on the point that human life must not be taken on the testimony of one witness only――a plurality of witnesses being required (Num. 35: 30, and Deut. 17: 6, and 19: 15).――――It was no crime before the law to kill a thief breaking into a house by night (Ex. 22: 2, 3). After sunrise, it became a crime of blood to take his life――it being assumed that he might be caught and compelled to make restitution, and that the peril to your own life and that of your family is materially lessened. The law carefully guarded the defenseless hours of sleep by night. If a thief in defiance of this law played the burglar by night, he must run his own risk of death in the attempt. 4. A very remarkable statute met the special case of a murder done by unknown hands (Deut. 21: 1–9). The authorities from all contiguous cities took up the case; measured carefully to fix upon the city lying nearest to the bloody spot. Then the elders of that city were to take a heifer never worked in yoke; bring her down into a wild, uncultivated valley――the home of all weird and thrilling associations――and there strike off the heifer’s head――the priests coming near and all the elders of that city washing their hands over the headless heifer, solemnly protesting――“Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people Israel’s charge.” “And the blood shall be forgiven them. So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.”――――The entire scene was well adapted to make the impression that murder is no trifle, and that God held the whole people responsible to some extent for the safety of every human life. 5. _Inexcusable carelessness_, followed by fatal results, was punishable by law. A supposed case for a specimen appears in Ex. 21: 28, 29. The goring ox――wont to push with his horns――reported to his owner but not “kept in” by him――killing man or woman――must be put to death and _his owner also_, for his culpable negligence.