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Bible Dictionaries
Punishments of the Hebrews
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or 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, Esther 7:10; Joshua 8:29; 2 Samuel 21:12 .
3. Stoning.
4. Fire. This punishment was common, Genesis 38:24; Leviticus
Genesis 21:9 .
5. The rack or tympanum, mentioned Hebrews 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, 2 Chronicles 25:12 .
7. Decapitation, Genesis 40:19; Judges 9:5; 2 Kings 10:7;
Matthew 14:8 .
8. The punishment of the saw, or to be cut asunder in the middle,
Hebrews 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, Exodus 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, Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2; 2 Kings 25:7 .
10. The cutting off the extremities of the feet and hands, Judges
2 Kings 1:5-7; 2 Samuel 4:12 .
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Punishments of the Hebrews'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/p/punishments-of-the-hebrews.html. 1831-2.
