Punishments Of The Hebrews
Punishments Of The Hebrews
There were several sorts of punishments in use among the Jews which are mentioned in the Scripture.
1. The punishment of the cross. (See Cross.)
2. Suspension, Est 7:10; Jos 8:29; 2Sa 21:12.
3. Stoning.
4. Fire. This punishment was common, Gen 38:24; Leviticus
Gen 21:9.
5. The rack or tympanum, mentioned Heb 11:35. Commentators are much divided about the meaning of this punishment; but most of them are of opinion that the bastinado, or the punishment
of the stick, is intended, and that the Apostle alludes to the cruelties exercised upon old Eleazar; for, in 2Ma 6:19, where his martyrdom is spoken of, it is said that he came to the tympanum.
6. The precipice, or throwing persons headlong from a rock, with a stone tied about the neck, 2Ch 25:12.
7. Decapitation, Gen 40:19; Jdg 9:5; 2Ki 10:7;
Mat 14:8.
8. The punishment of the saw, or to be cut asunder in the middle,
Heb 11:37. This punishment was not unknown to the
Hebrews. Some think it was originally from the Persians or Chaldeans.
9. Plucking out the eyes, Exo 21:24. Some think this punishment was seldom executed, but the offender was made to suffer in his property rather than in his person: yet there are some instances on record, Jdg 16:21; 1Sa 11:2; 2Ki 25:7.
10. The cutting off the extremities of the feet and hands, Judges
2Ki 1:5-7; 2Sa 4:12.