2. Whosoever . . . giveth any of his seed unto
Molech--(See on
Le 18:21).
the people of the land shall stone him with stones,
&c.--Criminals who were condemned to be stoned were led, with their
hands bound, without the gates to a small eminence, where was a large
stone placed at the bottom. When they had approached within ten cubits
of the spot, they were exhorted to confess, that, by faith and
repentance, their souls might be saved. When led forward to within four
cubits, they were stripped almost naked, and received some stupefying
draught, during which the witnesses prepared, by laying aside their
outer garments, to carry into execution the capital sentence which the
law bound them to do. The criminal, being placed on the edge of the
precipice, was then pushed backwards, so that he fell down the
perpendicular height on the stone lying below: if not killed by the
fall, the second witness dashed a large stone down upon his breast, and
then the "people of the land," who were by-standers, rushed forward,
and with stones completed the work of death
(Mt 21:44;
Ac 7:58).
JFB.
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