https://askgramps.org/why-was-the-death-penalty-imposed-on-the-israelites-for-so-many-offenses/ Moral answers to everyday concerns, curiosities, and uncertainties. Gramps considers all questions on all topics from all sources. Wed, 29 Sep 2021 03:42:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://askgramps.org/why-was-the-death-penalty-imposed-on-the-israelites-for-so-many-offenses/#comment-101 Wed, 24 May 2006 19:33:15 +0000 http://www.askgramps.org/why-was-the-death-penalty-imposed-on-the-israelites-for-so-many-offence/#comment-101 Many people are bothered by such harsh penalties. However within the law opportunities for mercy were also given. A rude and disobediasnt child could be sentenced to death by stoning, however only the parents could bring this complaint and if found guilty and sentenced to death the parents had to cast the first stone. In fact in all of these cases of civil punishment the accuser was required to cast the first stone. If the acuser refused then the death sentence was commuted. Very very few disobediant childern or obnoxoius neighbors or disloyal spouses ever suffered death, but public trial and humiliation was exposed as well as loving forgiveness given a chance. Also there were cities throughout the land that were designated sanctuaries, if the condemned or accused made there way to one of those cities they would remain safe and free as long as they remained within the cities confines. This allows a person to repent and start life anew. However if they broke the laws of that residence they could be tried and condemned in that city so a truely habitual criminal could easily use up his/her sanctuaries, but at least they would have been given every opportunity to turn their life around.

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