The 9th of the 10 Commandments is,

you shall not give false witness against your neighbor.

This means two things.

Do not lie when testifying in court,

and do not lie, period.

Remember, in order for an action to be prohibited or demanded in the 10 Commandments,

it has to be fundamental to making civilization.

As important as donkey riding might have been when the 10 Commandments were given,

the 10 Commandments contains no commandment to ride your donkey responsibly.

A society can survive bad donkey drivers,

but it cannot survive contempt for truth,

whether inside or outside a courtroom.

If people testify falsely in a courtroom,

there can be no justice,

and without even the hope of justice,

there can be no civilization.

The Hebrew Bible was so adamant on this subject

that the punishment imposed on a witness who gave false testimony

was the same as the punishment

that would have been needed out to the accused

as the false testimony been believed.

In the case of a crime that would be punishable by death, therefore,

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