The f()llowing are either alluded to or mentioned in the liihle and the historical or literary works of the i>eople of Israel : —
Anathema (ivaOena). — See sep. art. Curse.
Banishment. — Tliere was no provision in the Mosaic code for exile, unless it is to be understood that in some instances he wlio was cut oil' from the congregation was expelled from his country as well as from his people. Tem|iorary exclusion was ordered in the ca.se of Miriiun (Nu VI"). In the Pers. period it appears as a possible penalty, Ezr 7" (Kawlinson, Anc. Mun. iii. 194). The Kom. authority resorted to this measure in the case of John, the author of the Apoc. (1"), an<l it was much dreaded by the Jews (Jos. Ant. xvi. i. 1). A wholesale deportation, as a military measure, was made by Sarj'on, king of Assyria (2 K 18"). The flight of Absalom to Geshur to escape his father's displeasure after Amnon's assassination (2 S 13"' 14'*- "), and of Jeroboam to l'"gyi>t to avoid king Solomon (1 K 11*), are cases of voluntary exile, but not formal punishment.
Beating (Tvniraviaiib^, He 11"). — The bastinado was in common use among the Egyptians for thefts, petty frauds, and breach of trust. With it the male adulterer was ounished. In minor oU'ences a
stick was used. A debtor was often beaten (Wilkin- son, Anc. Egyp. ii. 21011'.). In As.syria a mace was used to crush the skull (Layard, iVtn. and Bab. 458). Though designed as a chastisement for slaves by the Greeks, a criminal might be beaten to death (2 Mac 6'»- »•*'). See Braying.
Beheading. — A capital punishment not sanc- tioned in Mosaic law, but frequently practised among the Assyr., Pers., Gr., Kom., and others. A cut in Rawhnson's Ancient Monarchies shows the victim standing upright, while the executioner seizes him by a lock of the hair in despatching him. In this way the chief baker who incurred Pharaoh's displeasure may have suflered (Gn 40''-'), the subsequent suspension of the body being an added reproach (see Hanging). It is doubtful whether the seven sons of Gideon were thus slain, Jg 9° (see Slaying with Spear or Sword. Ahab's seventy sons lost their heads by command of Jehu (2 K lO^-S). The head of John the Baptist was severed by order of Herod (Mt 14»-'», Mk 6"). Thus also suflered James the Apostle (Ac 12-). Many of the early martyrs were beheaded (Rev 20*). The head of Ishbosheth was removed after death (2 S 4'). Whether Sheba was slain before he was beheaded is not stated (2 S 20"-^).
Blinding. — The only legal authority for putting out the eyes under the Mosaic dispensation would be found indirectly in the law of retaliation ' an eve for an eye' (Ex 21«, Lv 24=», Dt 19"-2»), and therefore the punishment would be seldom inflicted. There is an indistinct reference to something of this sort in boring out the eyes of the spies (Nu 16"). As practised by foreign nations, the Assyrians and Babylonians sometimes using hot irons U)r the purpose, it was rather designed to incapacitate the victim from rebellion, revolt, or the power of doing further harm. Thus Samson suflered (Jg 16*'). Zedekiah lost his eyes partly as a vindiitive visitation, but more to ell'ectually unfit him foi rulership (2 K 25' and Jer 52"). In Persia it was inflicted for rascality, thieving, and rebellion. Criminals were not permitted to look on the face of the king (Est 7°). Nah.ash the Ammonite threatened that he would thrust out the right eyes of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead as a reproach on Israel, 1 S U'' (Rawlinsou, .^nc. .A/on. ; Harmer, Observations).
Branding and Burning. — It has been surmised that in some cases where burning was inflicted as the punishment for unchastity, it meant branding on the forehead as a mark of sliame. If, however, the extreme penalty is intended, it is represented as of pre-Mosaic authority, and was proposed for Tamar (Gn 38-'''). The Sinaitie law directs that a priest's daughter shall be burned for fornication (Lv 21") ; and that this shall be the form of punish- nient for incest with a wife's mother (Lv 2U'''). Eire from the Lord supcmaturally slew Nadaband Abiliu (Lv 10''). Burning alive or scorching was practised by the Phil. (Jg 14"), and !is.sociated with a sortof confiscation (12'); alsohythe liab. and Chakl. (Jer 29-'''). Esarhaddon burned a king alive [('•. Smith, Assyr. Discov.), and buriiin'' was attempted on Shadiacli and his companions (Dn 3). There ia an allusion to the practice in Is 43^ ; .see also 2 Mac 7'. Tradition states that Nimrod cast Abraham into the fiery furnace for refusing to worshiji Chald. gods (Layard, Bab. and Niti.; Koran xxi. 08, xxx vii. 95). Cf. Gn IP' with Neh 9', where iw, 'iir, may be interjjreted as light (of a flame). The [louring of molten lead down the throat (Jalin, Bib. Arch.) has no other authority than that of liabbin. statement. Slaves were sometimes brande<i on the hand (Is 44'), but such disfigurement was forbidden by Jewish law (Lv !!)=»; cf. Gal 6"). Branding accompanied deportation by the Persians (liawlin son. Anc. Mon. lii. Ifl4).
824 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
Braying or Pounding in a Mortar. — This act U mentioned in Pr 27'^ as unavailing in the cure of a fool. KV Bpecilies that the victim may be bruised as with a pestle among corn (see Nestle, Cheyne, etc. in Expos. Times, 1897, viii. 287, 335,etc. ). fennant is authority for the statement that it still remains as a Cingalese penalty. The Turks have been charged with such cruelty, and a king of Canday is said to have compelled a wife to pound her infant cliild to death. There is probable allusion to this form of punishment in He ll'"-'*, where the faithful are said to have been tortured or beaten (irufj-vapla- S-Qdai'), and to have had trial of scourgings. It is said that Eleazar was beaten on an instrument like a drum (2 Mae G*'), and Jos. (De. Mace. 5, 9) mentions a wheel (rpoxii) as an instrument of tor- ture. Hazael put men under sledges with iron spikes (2 K 8" W--^, with Am l"-*), to which also the Ammonites were probably subjected (2S 12*', 1 Ch 20'). The Talra. is quoted by Lightfoot as saying that Nebuzaradan used iron rakes on stme of his captives (Jer 39' 52-"'*').