Retaliation was authorized in the code of Ex 2124. 23 jj ^yj^g ij, ^gg among other nations, esp. the Egyptians (cf. the lex talionis of the Romans). It was not unequivocally approved by ancient authors, because it was apt to degenerate into mere revenge and would often be unfair in its operation. The possibility of its baneful consequences is shown by Thomson (Land and Book, i. 447, 449). Diodorus Siculus instances a one-eyed man as suffering more than the victim with two eyes. Favorinus shows the injustice of this principle in operation as con- tained in one of the Twelve Tables, in that the same member may be worth more to one man than to another, as the right hand of a scribe or painter comjiared with that of a singer. Hence it had to be administered with certain modifications. Thus Heb. law adopted the principle, but lodged the appli- cation with the judge (Ex ^l"^'^-, Lv 24'»-22) ; and an
aggresRor, by the payment of a ransom, could com- pound with the aggrieved and be relieved from thp full penaltj'of thelaw. A false accuser was required to sutler the same penalty that he proposed against the accused (Dt 19"). Heo. law was milder in spirit than that of heathen jurisprudence. Moses would not allow parents or children to sutler for the oft'ences of each otlier (Dt 24""). This equitable exemption was not regarded by the Chald.-cans (Dn 6"), or even by the kings of Israel (1 K 21^1, 2 K 9=').
Sawing Asunder. — In He 11" the term is used to describe an ancient form of punishment, which was possibly a crushing under instruments of iron (Am 1') ; and it is said, on the authority of Justin Martyr (Dial, with Trypho), to have been practised on Isaiah. There is an allusion to something of this sort in Pr 20^ (RV) ' He bringeth the threshing wheel over them ' (cf. Is 28^- ^). Saws are men- tioned in 2 S 12", 1 Ch 20^ ; and while it is painful to admit that David may have been guilty of such severity, the literal interpretation is the most plausible and accords with the usages of the times. (See, however. Driver, Heb. Text of Sam. 226 11'. ). In Shaw's Travels a case is described where the victim was placed between two boards and dis severed longitudinally (Smith, DB), and anothei case is mentioned by Harmer (Observations) aa occurring on Stewart's journey to Mequinez.
Scourging with Thorns (see also Stripes). — In the marginal reading of Jg 8', Gideon is repre- sented as threatening to thresh the men of Succoth with thorns and briers, and in the margin to 8" it is stated that they were thiis punished, as Stanley (Hist. Jew. Ch. ) suggests, with the acacia. The scorpions (O'jipi') mentioned in 1 K 12" may have been knotted sticks, or ropes into which wire wa« plaited, or iron points or nails or cutting pieces of lead were inserted. Calmet guesses that David so treated the Moabites (2 S 8'). Some attempt to solve the much-mooted difficulties of 2 S 12" by a reference to this mode of punishment.
SlaYery. — In Heb. law it was possible for a person to fall into servitude for a limited time. A thief, when unable to make restitution, was sold with wife and children (Ex 22'). The misfortune of debt led to the same result (2 K 4', Neh 5'). The statute of limitations mercifully provided against oppressive usage and permanent enslave- ment (Lv 25^-«, Dt 15", Jer 34"). The Rabbins say a woman could not be sold for theft. Joseph proposed, as an Egj-ptian procedure, to make a slave of the detected pilferer of his cup (Gn 44"). See separate article.
Slaying by Spear or Sword.— This was an ex- peditious method, sometimes adopted in an emer- gency. The spear, javelin, or dart (He 12™) was to be used on trespassers at the foot of Sinai (Ex 19"). Phinehas went so armed in eager and immediate punishment of the man found with a Midianitish woman (Nu 25'-'). The sword was taken by the Levites against the worshippers of the golden calf (Ex 32"), and in Dt 13"-'* authority is given for its use in the wholesale slaughter of a city for idolatry. Some cutting instrument was employed by Abimelech in the murder of his brethren (Jg 9*). Samuel hewed Agag to pieces with the sword (1 S 15"), and with the same Doeg massacred the priests in Nob (I S 22"- "»). According to the lex tnlionis, the young Amalekite who claimed tliat he drew the sword to kill Saul was put to death with the same kind of implement (2 S 1"), with which or the spear Ishbosheth was assassinated (2 S 4'-'). Tlie sword was used in the summary executions ordered by Solomon (1 K2*-"-"-"). By it Elijah slew the prophets of Baal (1 K 19'), and it was common in regal and martial proceedings, Iweoming still more prominent in post- Bab. times. The sword or axe was employed to carry out the order of Jehu on Ahab's
CRIMES AND PUXISILMEXTS
CRISPUS
527
BODS (2 K 10') (see Beheading). Thus Jehornni murdered his brethren (2 Ch 21'), and Julioiakini despatched Urijah (Jer 26^). Tlie sword as an instniMient of punishment is specifically mentioned in Job 19'^. See also Divine Visitation.