Deuteronomy 21:23

+ 21:23. Deut 21:23 (Deut 21:22-23) (#6.415): T. Not to have a dead body hanging on a tree overnight / R. Not to delay burial overnight R. Note: The Rabbis interpret hanging not as a form of the death penalty but rather is to be performed after the execution has been carried out (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 6:4) his body shall not remain all night on the tree, + 21:23. Deut 21:23 (Deut 21:22-23) (#6.416): To bury the executed on the day of execution but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of God; + 21:23. (22-23) Quoted in Acts 5:30; Gal 3:13 + 21:23. Quoted in Acts 10:39, 13:29 that you don’t defile your land which Adonai your God gives you for an inheritance.

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In The King James Version

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

In Context

22If a man has committed a crime deserving peanlty, sin ·missing the goal· mishpat ·judged· worthy of death, and he is put to death, + 21:22. Deut 21:22 (Deut 21:22-23; Gen 9:4-6) (#6.414): T. To hang on the gallows a person whose judgment is capitol punishment (death) / R. For the court to hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry (yes, this is accurately stated) / R. To hang the dead body of one who has incurred that penalty T. Note: The passage does not define a particular sin, rather any sin whose punishment is death R. Note: The Rabbis do not recognize hanging as a method for capitol punishment. “Four deaths have been entrusted to the court: stoning, burning, slaying ·by the sword· and strangulation” (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 7:1) / T. Note: It can be derived that stoning was the standard method of execution (Lev 24:23; Num 15:36; 1 King 21:13; 2 Chr 24:21) / R. Reason: The Rabbis interpret the use of this punishment of hanging as a disgrace to the criminal and a warning to others in order to prevent more sins of the same sort (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 6:4) R. Consider: Example: According to Rabbi Eliezer, the Torah ·Teaching· commands that all executed people are hung after their execution. However, the Sages say that this is done only to the blasphemer (of God) and to the idol worshiper (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 6:4) / Note: The Hebrew word talah ·to hang· implies hanging by the hands, not by the neck and not lynching. Talah ·to hang· was usually done either with hands above the head on a plank or with hands outstretched on a T-cross beam gallows (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 6:4) / Note: The Hebrew talah ·to hang· on a gibbet type of gallows is similar to the Roman method of crucifixion on a cross, but they are not the exact same punishment in respect to the philosophies and application of punishment and you hang him on a tree; + 21:22. Quoted in 1 Pet 2:24

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Cross References

Numbers 25:4Adonai said to Moses [Drawn out], “Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Adonai before the sun, that the fierce anger of Adonai may turn away from Israel [God prevails].”

Numbers 35:34You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the middle of which I dwell; for I, Adonai, dwell in the middle of the children of Israel [God prevails].’”

Deuteronomy 7:26+ 7:26. Deut 7:26 (Deut 7:25-26) (#2a.73): T. Do not bring something abhorrent, that is an abomination, into your house / R. Not to benefit from an object of idolatry, its accessories, nor its offerings, nor its wine libations You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:19-23

Punishment of a Rebellious Son; Burial of Malefactors. ( b. c. 1451.) 18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he… Read the whole commentary →

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