Deuteronomy 25:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-4

Here is, I. A direction to the judges in scourging malefactors, Deut. 25:1-3. 1. It is here supposed that, if a man be charged with a crime, the accuser and the accused (Actor and Reus) should be brought face to face before the judges, that the controversy may be determined. 2. If a man were accused of a crime, and the proof fell short, so that the charge could not be made out against him by the evidence, then he was to be acquitted: ?Thou shalt justify the righteous,? that is, ?him that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:2

And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten ,.... There were four kinds of death criminals were put to by the Jews, stoning, strangling, burning, and slaying with the sword; and such crimes not as severe as these were punished with beating or scourging; and who they were that were worthy to be beaten is at large set forth in the Misnic treatise called Maccoth F24 Ib. c. 3. sect. 1. 2, 3, &c.; , or "stripes", which are too many to be transcribed. Maimonides says F25 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 25:2

The judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face - This precept is literally followed in China; the culprit receives in the presence of the magistrate the punishment which the law directs to be inflicted. Thus then justice is done, for the magistrate sees that the letter of the law is duly fulfilled, and that the officers do not transgress it, either by indulgence on the one hand, or severity on the other. The culprit receives nothing more nor less than what justice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-3

EXPOSITION LAWS RELATING TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT , LEVIRATE MARRIAGES , AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES . The first and second verses should be read as one sentence, of which the protasis is in Deuteronomy 25:1 and the apodosis in Deuteronomy 25:2 , thus: If there be a strife between men, and they come to judgment, and they ( i . e . the judges) give judgment on them, and justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked, then it shall be, if the wicked deserve... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-3

Humanity to be respected in judicial inflictions. This passage is an interesting illustration of the restraints which the Law of Moses puts on the Hebrews, as to the semi-barbarous customs of other nations. It is well known that punishment by bastinado was common among the ancient Egyptians. It would be not unnaturally adopted by the Hebrews. There are here three matters to be noticed. 1. Here is a principle to be recognized ( Deuteronomy 25:1 ). 2. The punishment 3. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-3

The bastinado. Professor W. R. Smith regards this law of stripes as indicating a late date for Deuteronomy. He argues from the customs of the free Bedouins. But it is perilous to reason from the customs of the Bedouins to the punishments in vogue among a people who had lived some centuries in Egypt, where, as is well-known, the bastinado was in constant use. The sculptures at Beni-Hassan represent the very scene here described. We learn— I. THAT IT IS THE FUNCTION OF CIVIL... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-3

Earthly magistracy an argument for the heavenly. It is not conceivable that God should have taken such pains, through Moses, to secure pure administration of justice in earthly courts, unless he had established a like court of judicature in heaven. So far as the will of God is embodied in the judicial procedure on earth, it is copied from the pattern of heavenly things. I. A JUDICIAL COURT IS CREATED FOR THE DISCRIMINATION OF HUMAN CHARACTER . The purpose of all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:1-3

Corporal punishment. We have here directions given for the punishment of criminals. As the Hebrews had no gaol system, a properly graduated corporal punishment supplied most effectively its place. Moses here directs the judges to look carefully into the case, and to assign a certain number of stripes, which are never to exceed forty, the chastisement being given in the presence of the judge. Thus the largest measure of equity was introduced into their penal system. I. RETRIBUTION OF... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 25:1-2

Render it:(1) If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and the judges judge them, and justify the righteous and condemn the wicked (compare the marginal reference. and Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 17:15);(2) then it shall be, etc.Deuteronomy 25:2Scourging is named as a penalty in Leviticus 19:20. The beating here spoken of would be on the back with a rod or stick (compare Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 25:2

Deuteronomy 25:2. Worthy to be beaten Which the Jews say was the case of all those who had committed crimes which the law commands to be punished, without expressing the kind or degree of punishment. Before his face That the punishment might be duly inflicted, without excess or defect. And from this no person’s rank or quality exempted him, if he were a delinquent. read more

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