Deuteronomy 21:18-21

(2) THE TREATMENT OF STUBBORN SONS (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them; 19 then shall his father and mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 21:18-21

355.

Here is parental discipline with a vengeance! Why was this necessary? Do you imagine it was practiced?

356.

Notice the preventative measures taken before the corrective discipline was administered.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 21:18-21

18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father or his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them;
19 Then his father and his mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives,

20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, This our son is rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. [Proverbs 23:20-22.]

21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall cleanse out the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and (reverently) fear.

COMMENT 21:18-21

See also Deuteronomy 5:16, Deuteronomy 27:16 (and notes on both these passages), Exodus 21:15; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9, Proverbs 30:17.

This case appears to deal especially with a son who had gained a reputation of gluttony and drunkeness (Deuteronomy 21:20), and who would not be deterred from such a life in spite of his parent's exhortations. Their advice and chastisements were only met with stubbornness and rebellion. This son has not simply slipped, or made a mistakehe has been defiant, unruly, and recalcitrant. The severe punishment given to him is illustrative of God's hatred for such sin.

AND ALL ISREAL SHALL HEAR, AND FEAR (Deuteronomy 21:21)One cannot imagine other young people witnessing such an event without being deeply sobered. When Ananias and Sapphira were struck down by God, great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things (Acts 5:11). Some object lessons are too vivid and real to forget. This was to be a lesson for all Israel as well as punishment for one individual.