Legal innovation in deuteronomy XXI 18-20

Joseph Fleishman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is proposed in this paper that the law in Deut. xxi 18-21 constitutes a legal innovation in its definition of the "wayward and defiant" child who should be put to death because of denial of his parents' authority. The protasis (v. 18) presents the customary law regarding the definition of the disobedient male child and, in essence, is similar to the law of Exod. xxi 17. The first part of the apodosis (vv. 19-20), on the other hand, redefines it. In the innovation, only the son who disobeys his father and mother and refuses to cease his gluttony and drinking is the disobedient son who should be put to death by stoning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)311-327
Number of pages17
JournalVetus Testamentum
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2003.

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