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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:18 - 21:21
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Punishment of a Rebellious Child
v. 18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, disputing the parental authority in disposition and deed, which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, being incorrigibly disobedient and refractory, and that, when they have chastened him, have punished him according to the obligation resting upon them, will not hearken unto them,
v. 19. then shall his father-and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, to the magistrates who were charged with upholding authority and therefore also with backing up the parents in such a case, and unto the gate of his place, the open space inside the city gate, where all public affairs of this nature were decided;
v. 20. and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice, calmly disregarding all commands; he is a glutton and a drunkard, a fact which explains his rebellious behavior.
v. 21. And all the men of his city, not the parents themselves, who had no power over life and death, shall stone him with stones that he die, the whole city agreeing that the case is clear beyond question; so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear and fear. Thus parental authority was upheld among the Israelites, but at the same time guarded. A good many modern parents, who have reached the opposite extreme, in permitting their children to tread all authority, both parental and civil, under foot, might learn from this passage the fact that God will not be mocked.