ἀθετήσας τις. Especially by being guilty of the sin of idolatry (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). Literally, it is “any one, on setting at nought Moses’ law.”

χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν. The Mosaic law pronounced on offenders an inexorable doom. “The letter killeth” (2 Corinthians 3:6).

ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἤ τρισὶν μάρτυσιν, i.e. by the testimony of at least two (John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1). Comp. the use of ἐπὶ “on the condition of” in Hebrews 9:17.

ἀποθνήσκει. Lit., “dies.” Here is another of the favourite Jewish exegetical arguments a minori ad majus.

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Old Testament