Difference between revisions of "On the culpability of Saul's sons"
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Given the lack of information about the crime that was perpetrated on the Gibeonites, we can assume that Saul's sons were accessories in the act of murder, and that David knew this. Verse 1 states explicitly that Saul's "house," or "household," was guilty. | Given the lack of information about the crime that was perpetrated on the Gibeonites, we can assume that Saul's sons were accessories in the act of murder, and that David knew this. Verse 1 states explicitly that Saul's "house," or "household," was guilty. | ||
| − | Biblical law explicitly | + | Biblical law explicitly teaches against the authority of human civil governments to use vicarious punishment: |
{{:Scriptblock|Deuteronomy 24:16}} | {{:Scriptblock|Deuteronomy 24:16}} | ||
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| + | This prohibition is one of the things which distinguishes of Biblical law from other ancient Near East law systems. | ||
Greg Bahnsen: | Greg Bahnsen: | ||
{{:Quote|"What we have is a case parallel to that of Achan in Joshua 7. There the nation was afflicted for an individual's sin, and ultimately the family of the individual was executed along with him (for they could hardly have failed to detect Achan's burying money and keeping war spoil in his tent). They were guilty, at least, of complicity with him." <ref>"Law and Atonement in the Execution of Saul's Seven Sons", Journal of Christian Reconstruction v.2 n.2, 142-143</ref>}} | {{:Quote|"What we have is a case parallel to that of Achan in Joshua 7. There the nation was afflicted for an individual's sin, and ultimately the family of the individual was executed along with him (for they could hardly have failed to detect Achan's burying money and keeping war spoil in his tent). They were guilty, at least, of complicity with him." <ref>"Law and Atonement in the Execution of Saul's Seven Sons", Journal of Christian Reconstruction v.2 n.2, 142-143</ref>}} | ||
</span> | </span> | ||
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===Associated scriptures=== | ===Associated scriptures=== | ||
Revision as of 11:33, 19 July 2020
Given the lack of information about the crime that was perpetrated on the Gibeonites, we can assume that Saul's sons were accessories in the act of murder, and that David knew this. Verse 1 states explicitly that Saul's "house," or "household," was guilty.
Biblical law explicitly teaches against the authority of human civil governments to use vicarious punishment:
16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16WEB
This prohibition is one of the things which distinguishes of Biblical law from other ancient Near East law systems.
Greg Bahnsen:
"What we have is a case parallel to that of Achan in Joshua 7. There the nation was afflicted for an individual's sin, and ultimately the family of the individual was executed along with him (for they could hardly have failed to detect Achan's burying money and keeping war spoil in his tent). They were guilty, at least, of complicity with him." [1]
Associated scriptures
Part of topics:
- ↑ "Law and Atonement in the Execution of Saul's Seven Sons", Journal of Christian Reconstruction v.2 n.2, 142-143
