Topical Bible: Night: The Jews: Forbidden to Allow Malefactors to Hang During

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In the context of ancient Jewish law and customs, the treatment of executed criminals was subject to specific regulations, particularly concerning the timing and duration of their exposure post-execution. According to the Mosaic Law, it was forbidden to allow the bodies of executed malefactors to remain hanging overnight. This directive is rooted in the Torah, specifically in the book of Deuteronomy.

The relevant passage is found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 : "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you must not leave the body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."

This commandment underscores several key principles within Jewish law and theology:

1. Respect for the Deceased: The prohibition against leaving a body hanging overnight reflects a broader cultural and religious respect for the dead. Even those who have been executed for their crimes are afforded a degree of dignity in death, emphasizing the sanctity of human life.

2. Avoidance of Defilement: The land given by God to the Israelites was considered holy, and leaving a body exposed overnight was seen as a defilement of that land. This reflects the importance of maintaining ritual purity and the sanctity of the community's environment.

3. Symbolism of the Curse: The passage explicitly states that "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse." This notion of being cursed by God when hung on a tree is significant in Jewish thought and later Christian interpretation, particularly in understanding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

4. Prompt Burial Practices: The requirement for same-day burial aligns with Jewish burial customs, which emphasize the prompt interment of the dead. This practice is still observed in Jewish communities today, highlighting the continuity of tradition.

The New Testament also reflects on this aspect of Jewish law. In Galatians 3:13 , the Apostle Paul references this Deuteronomic law to explain the redemptive work of Christ: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" Here, Paul draws a parallel between the curse associated with being hung on a tree and Jesus' crucifixion, interpreting it as a means of redemption for humanity.

In summary, the prohibition against leaving executed individuals hanging overnight is a multifaceted commandment that reflects the values of respect for the dead, the maintenance of ritual purity, and the theological implications of being cursed. This law is an integral part of the broader legal and ethical framework within which the ancient Israelites lived, and it continues to hold significance in both Jewish and Christian thought.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that your land be not defiled, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
... to be distinctly known that travelling, which was forbidden on Sabbaths ... of
detection,come to Jesus by night, and with ... mixture well known to the Jews for puroses ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... During this period of his childhood, while striving to harden his heart against
God, many ... In the still hours of the night 'in a dream God opened' his ears[25 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

The Doctrine
... that is, though they did not take the forbidden fruit as ... as it is a Covenant of Works,
doth not allow of any ... horse that works hard all day, and at night hath a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm