Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-23

Here is, I. A law for the punishing of a rebellious son. Having in the former law provided that parents should not deprive their children of their right, it was fit that it should next be provided that children withdraw not the honour and duty which are owing to their parents, for there is no partiality in the divine law. Observe, 1. How the criminal is here described. He is a stubborn and rebellious son, Deut. 21:18. No child was to fare the worse for the weakness of his capacity, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son ,.... It is observed F23 Moses Kotensis Mitzvot Torah, pr. affirm. 122. Kimchi in 2 Sam. 3. 3. that this law quickly follows, and is subjoined to that which relates to the marriage of a woman taken captive, because often from such marriages wicked and refractory children have sprung, and which they exemplify in the case of Absalom, whose mother they say David took in war and married: the character of such a son follows, and by which it may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:19

Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him ,.... With their own hands, or cause him to be apprehended by others, in which they were to agree, and which the Jews gather from hence;"if (say they F25 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 8. sect. 4. ) the father is willing (to bring him to justice), and the mother not willing, if his father is not willing and the mother is willing, he is not reckoned a stubborn or rebellious son, until they both agree:" and bring him out unto the elders of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:20

And they shall say unto the elders of his city ,.... In open court, what follows, at the same time, according to the Targum of Jonathan, acknowledging their own sins, for which such a calamity had befallen them, saying,"we have transgressed the decree of the word of the Lord, because is born unto us a son that is stubborn, &c.;'see John 9:2 . this our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice ; one of an obstinate disposition, will have his own will and way, is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:21

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die ,.... The populace; that is, after his trial is finished, and he is condemned to die; and he was not stoned until the three first judges were there (by whom he was admonished, and ordered to be beaten), as it it said, "this is our son", this is he that was beaten before you F6 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 3. sect. 4. ; and according to the Targum of Jonathan,"if he feared (God, and showed any token of repentance) and received... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

The stubborn, rebellious, gluttonous, and drunken son is to be stoned to death - This law, severe as it may seem, must have acted as a powerful preventive of crime. If such a law were in force now, and duly executed, how many deaths of disobedient and profligate children would there be in all corners of the land! read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:18

Verse 18 18.If a man have a stubborn. What God had previously adverted to in two clauses, tie now embraces in a general law, for it cannot be doubted but that by rebellious children all are designated who are abusive or insulting to their father and mother. For if it be a capital crime to be disobedient to parents, much more is it to strike, or beat them, and to assail them with reproachful words. In sum, Moses declares that those are deserving of death who are of such a stubborn and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:15-18

The firstborn of the hated wife. The firstborn, in patriarchal and tribal societies, had recognized rights and honors, correlative with the duties and responsibilities which his position as prospective head of the household entailed on him. The principle is here asserted that individual preferences and partialities are not to be allowed to set aside the rights of the son who is lawfully the firstborn. Men would fain, sometimes, bend justice to their likings. Where an Israelite had two... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

If a son was refractory and unmanageable by his parents, if, given to sensual indulgence, he would yield neither to reproof nor to chastisement,—the parents were to lay hold on him, and lead him to the ciders of the town, sitting as magistrates at its gates, and there accuse him of his evil ways and rebelliousness. The testimony of the parents was apparently held sufficient to substantiate the charge, and this being received by the elders, the culprit was to be put to death by stoning. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

A bad son a State peril. This is a very remarkable provision. It is based on the well-known fact that there are some who need a strong deterrent to keep them from being a plague and peril to a State, and also on the all-important principle, that whoever is a pest and nuisance in the home, is the bane of the commonwealth to which he belongs. Moses had just laid down the duty of the parent to deal justly with his sons, whatever his personal partialities might be. He now lays down the extent... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:15-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-21

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