Musing – Whatever Happened to the Death Penalty?

 Hebraic Musing – Whatever Happened to the Death Penalty?

Remember when cowboy flicks depicted cattle rustlers being hung before sunset?

As I was growing up the news would occasionally cover the execution of someone judged to be deserving of the death penalty.  Now recently, it seems those same crimes typically result in medium to long-term imprisonment. 

Where did the concept of a death penalty start?  A – In the Bible!  The NKJV says “be put to death” 61 times, and most are “must be…”.  Here’s just a few examples:

·      Exod.19:12  going up to or touching the base of the mountain.

·      Exod.21:12  Striking a man and he dies.

·      Exod.21:15  Simply striking ones father or mother; and Exod.21:17 & Lev.20:9 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.”  This did not happen very often, probably once per generation!

·      Exod.21:16  Kidnaps a man and sells him, or is found with him.

·      Exod.21:29  Anyone whose oxen is known to gore and the oxen does gore and kill another…

·      Exod.22:19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.”

·      Exod.31: 14 “You shall keep the Sabbath, …. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death;” And Exod.31:15  & 35:2 “Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.”

·      Lev:20:2  “who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death.”

·      Lev.20:10  Commits adultery with another man's wife, …(Both)… shall surely be put to death.

·      Lev.20:11&12  He who lies with his father’s wife…or daughter–in-law…

·      Lev.20:13  ‘If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, .. an abomination…(both) … be put to death.

·      Lev.20:15&16 “If a man (or woman) mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death,”

·      Lev.20:27  “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death.”

·      Lev.24:16  “And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death.”   How often do you hear someone swear using the Lord’s name?!?!

And the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy have many more examples of the Death Penalty being called for.  And Jesus reiterated many of these commandments in Matthew 10 & Mark 7. 

On a side note – During our trips to Israel we found there is no shortage of stones for executing a “stoning”!

We all know the familiar Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death,” so maybe the difference between the OT & NT is that God deals with our deserved death at the end of our life.

The Death Penalty was to be carried out promptly.  Ecclesiastes 8:11 reminds us to not delay carrying out the penalties.  “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”  NKJV    In the “Wild West” a cattle rustler might not get to see the sunset!

Does this classic verse apply here?  “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”  Proverbs 13:24 NKJV   How does Father God treat His children?

Points to ponder

In which country is it safest to commit a crime?

Could current lawlessness be the result of unwillingness to exercise discipline?

Why are these commandments from God not being carried out?

Is discipline recognized as a loving act?

 “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Prov.22:15

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      November 9, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired by trying to read through the Bible and realizing the Torah has violent/adult content!