Humanity to be respected in judicial inflictions.
This passage is an interesting illustration of the restraints which the Law of Moses puts on the Hebrews, as to the semi-barbarous customs of other nations. It is well known that punishment by bastinado was common among the ancient Egyptians. It would be not unnaturally adopted by the Hebrews. There are here three matters to be noticed.
1. Here is a principle to be recognized (Deuteronomy 25:1).
2. The punishment
3. The reason given is very impressive, "lest thy brother should seem vile unto thee," i.e. lest he should be so excessively punished as to be afterwards unfit for service, and lest he should be the common butt of any one who chose to dishonor him. Human nature is to be respected, even in carrying out legal sentences on crime. Trapp says, "The Turks, when cruelly lashed, are compelled to return to the judge that commanded it, to kiss his hand, to give him thanks, and to pay the officer that whipped them!
I. The sight of a human being coming under the sentence of criminal law is matter for intense sadness.
II. The punishment to be inflicted on him should be such in matter and degree as to assert right principle, but not such as needlessly to dishonor him. For—
III. Humanity, in spite of crime, has dignity about it still. Sin and the sinner are not inseparable. God can kill one and save the other!
IV. With a view to a criminal's salvation, whatever of honor remains in his nature should be carefully guarded and tenderly appealed to.