SPECIAL TOPIC: STONE TO DEATH (from Deut. 13:10)

The MT has the VERB for "stoning to death" (BDB 709, KB 768, Qal PERFECT) and the term for "stone" (BDB 6), which literally would be "stone him with stones." Stoning was a capital punishment which was done by the whole covenantal community (cf. Lev. 20:2,27; 24:13-23; Num. 15:32-36; Deut. 13:10; 21:21; Josh. 7:22-26) to rid itself of evil.

This is not the regular term used for judicial capital punishment. This term speaks of the urgency of immediate, radical purging of evil (cf. Exod. 32:27; Lev. 20:15,16; Num. 25:5; Deut. 13:10; Ezek. 9:6).

Here is a list of the sins that triggered capital punishment in Israel.

1. murder
2. adultery ‒ Exod. 20:10-16; Deut. 22:13-21,22,23-27
3. stealing (i.e. kidnapping, cf. Exod. 21:16; Deut. 24:7)
4. false witnessing
5. idolatry/occult
   1. Molelch ‒ Lev. 20:2-5; 1 Kgs. 11:7
   2. mediums and spiritists ‒ Lev. 20:6-8,27
   3. after other gods ‒ Deut. 13:1-10; 17:2-7
6. incest ‒ Lev. 20:14
7. blasphemy against YHWH ‒ Exod. 22:28; Lev. 24:10-23
8. sabbath breaking ‒ Num. 15:35-36
9. premeditated murder ‒ Exod. 20:13; Num. 35:9
10. dishonoring parents ‒ Exod. 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21:18-21
11. violating the ban (herem) ‒ Josh. 7:25

Special Topic: Death Penalty in Israel

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