Deuteronomy 21:23

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 21:23

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree ,.... Which is to be understood of any and everyone that was hanged, and not of the rebellious son only; of whom Josephus F12 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 24. says, that he was to be stoned by the multitude without the city, and having remained a whole day for a spectacle unto all, was to be buried at night; and indeed such a person was not to remain hanging on the tree any part of the night, but to be taken down at sun setting; so the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 21:23

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree - Its exposure for the space of one day was judged sufficient. The law which required this answered all the ends of public justice, exposed the shame and infamy of the conduct, but did not put to torture the feelings of humanity by requiring a perpetual exhibition of a human being, a slow prey to the most loathsome process of putrefaction. Did ever the spiking of the heads of state criminals prevent high treason? or the gibbeting of a thief... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18-23

Parental authority enforced. It is plain that parents are to deal with their children to the best of their ability: but in case a stubborn and rebellious son would not hearken to father or mother, would not appreciate chastisement, and had become a drunkard and glutton, then the parents were directed to bring the case before the elders of the city, and the impenitent, licentious son was to be taken away from the earth by public stoning. The public law was thus, in the last resort, to back... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:22-23

When a criminal was put to death and was hanged upon a tree, his body was not to remain there over-night, but was to be buried the same day on which he was executed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:22-23

Upon the tree! These words form part of the criminal code of the Hebrews, and though as such they may be regarded as practically obsolete, yet they contain principles which will never wax old, and are, moreover, so frequently alluded to in the New Testament, that they furnish us with a starting-point of no mean interest for a devout Christian meditation. The case supposed in the text is not that of a man being put to death by crucifixion, but of his having suffered capital punishment,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:22-23

Accursed of God. The criminal who had committed a sin worthy of death, and was put to death under the law, was viewed as dying under the ban or curse of God. When the crime was very execrable, and the criminal might be regarded as perishing under God's most awful curse, the fact was intimated by exposing the body on a tree. Compare the old custom of hanging a notorious criminal in chains. The placing of the body on a tree was not that which made the person accursed, but was an external... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:22-23

The doom of law the embodiment of Divine curse. The suspension of a human body on the gallows-tree is the utmost climax of ruin and disgrace. It is the fullest exponent of the public detestation and horror for the deed. In this case the curse of men is the curse of God. But this curse was not to continue. Blessing was to be perpetual, abiding, uninterrupted; but the curse was to endure for a moment. The body so accursed was to be buried before sunset. Many reasons have been assigned for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:23

He that is hanged is accursed of God ; literally, a curse of God . Some take this as meaning an insult to God, a contemning of him, "since man his image is thus given up to scorn and insult" (Rashi). But the more probable meaning is "a curse inflicted by God," which the transgressor is made to endure (cf. Galatians 3:13 ). That thy land be not defiled. The land was defiled, not only by sins committed by its inhabitants, but also by the public exposure of criminals who had been put... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 21:23

He that is hanged is accursed of God - i. e. “Bury him that is hanged out of the way before evening: his hanging body defiles the land; for God’s curse rests on it.” The curse of God is probably regarded as lying on the malefactor because, from the fact of his being hanged, be must have been guilty of a especially atrocious breach of God’s covenant. Such an offender could not remain on the face of the earth without defiling it (compare Leviticus 18:25, Leviticus 18:28; Numbers 35:34). Therefore... read more

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