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[219]
But let not a single witness be credited, but three, or two at the
least, and those such whose testimony is confirmed by their good lives.
But let not the testimony of women be admitted, on account of the levity
and boldness of their sex 1
Nor let servants be admitted to give testimony, on account of the ignobility
of their soul; since it is probable that they may not speak truth, either
out of hope of gain, or fear of punishment. But if any one be believed
to have borne false witness, let him, when he is convicted, suffer all
the very same punishments which he against whom he bore witness was to
have suffered.
1 I have never observed elsewhere, that in the Jewish government women were not admitted as legal witnesses in courts of justice. None of our copies of the Pentateuch say a word of it. It is very probable, however, that this was the exposition of the scribes and Pharisees, and the practice of the Jews in the days of Josephus.
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