EXPIATION OF UNDETECTED HOMICIDE. MARRIAGE OF CAPTIVE WOMEN. PUNISHMENT OF A REBELLIOUS SON The last sub-section of the Second Discourse begins here, containing a variety of social and domestic regulations. 1-9. The Expiation of Undetected Homicide. The cases of accidental and open, wilful murder... [ Continue Reading ]
For ROUGH VALLEY read 'valley with running water,' and for STRIKE OFF THE HEIFER'S NECK read 'break the heifer's neck.' EARED means 'ploughed' as in Exodus 34:21. The proper satisfaction for the crime of murder would be the death of the murderer: see Deuteronomy 19:13 but as he cannot be discovered,... [ Continue Reading ]
The washing of the hands is a protestation of innocence. Cp. the action of Pilate in Matthew 27:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
The elders, in the name of all the citizens, take an oath of purgation. The publicity and solemnity of the ceremony must have had a powerful effect upon the public conscience, and in some cases no doubt assisted in the discovery of the murderer. 10-14. On the Marriage of Captive Women. This rule do... [ Continue Reading ]
These are rites indicative of purification: see Leviticus 14:8; Numbers 6:9. The captive comes from a heathen people, and this ceremony symbolises the renouncing of her former life and her adoption into Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The woman is to be honourably treated. Even if divorced she must not be sold as a slave but allowed to go back to her people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Succession to hereditary property is a fruitful cause of discord in a family, as is also the favouritism of parents: cp. the case of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 25:28). A polygamous society is specially liable to disturbance from these causes. BELOVED and HATED are relative terms, meaning simply that... [ Continue Reading ]
A DOUBLE PORTION] The usual right of the firstborn. An estate was divided into a number of parts exceeding the number of children by one, and the extra share fell to the firstborn.... [ Continue Reading ]
Children have rights, as the last passage shows, but they have also duties. The punishment of an incorrigible son is very severe. The State is regarded as having an interest in the proper upbringing of children and as exercising its authority when that of the parents is powerless: see on Exodus 20:1... [ Continue Reading ]