Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the role of an executioner was often associated with carrying out capital punishment as decreed by legal or royal authority. The executioner was responsible for enforcing the death penalty, which was a common practice for certain crimes under the Mosaic Law and in various monarchies.Old Testament References: 1. Genesis 40:19 · In the account of Joseph, the chief baker is executed by Pharaoh's decree: "Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body." This passage illustrates the role of an executioner in carrying out the king's judgment. 2. 1 Samuel 15:33 · The prophet Samuel acts as an executioner when he puts Agag, the king of the Amalekites, to death: "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women." And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal. 3. 2 Samuel 1:15 · David orders the execution of the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul: "Then David summoned one of the young men and said, 'Go, execute him!' So he struck him down, and he died." 4. 2 Kings 10:7 · Jehu's purge of Ahab's house involved executioners: "When the letter arrived, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel." New Testament References: 1. Mark 6:27 · The execution of John the Baptist is a notable New Testament example: "So without delay, the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went, beheaded him in the prison." 2. Acts 12:2 · Herod Agrippa I orders the execution of James, the brother of John: "He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword." Role and Symbolism: The executioner in biblical narratives often symbolizes the finality of divine or royal judgment. Executioners were instruments through which justice, as perceived in the context of the time, was administered. The presence of executioners in these accounts underscores the seriousness with which law and order were maintained in ancient societies. Mosaic Law and Capital Punishment: The Mosaic Law prescribed capital punishment for various offenses, including murder (Exodus 21:12), adultery (Leviticus 20:10), and blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16). While the executioner is not always explicitly mentioned, the enforcement of these laws would have necessitated such a role. Cultural and Historical Context: Executioners were often seen as necessary enforcers of justice, though their role could also be viewed with a degree of fear and stigma. In some cases, executioners were appointed by the ruling authority, while in others, they were part of the military or judicial system. The biblical portrayal of executioners reflects the broader cultural and legal practices of the ancient Near East, where capital punishment was a common means of maintaining social order and deterring crime. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 37:36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. Nave's Topical Index Proverbs 16:14 Jeremiah 39:9 Library The Life of Mr. Hugh M'kail. The Life of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians The First Kings. The Marvels of Holy Scripture, --Moral and Physical. --Jael's Deed ... The Life of the Honourable Archibald Campbel Marquis of Argyle. After the Whole People had Been Freed from all Distress... The Martyrdom of Stephen. Conversion On Eutropius, the Eunuch, Patrician and Consul. Resources Is “I will deliver” or “Will I deliver” the correct translation of Hosea 13:14? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is an avenger of blood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was John the Baptist in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Executioner: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |