Tuesday 24 February 2015

Christians Believe Jesus Approved of Hand Chopping


Can we just be clear on hand chopping in the Bible? Rather than being pressurised by liberalism and modern day norms can Christians declare this openly?
I was in an email discussion with a Christian who is into apologetics. He was denying there was hand chopping in the Bible. He was totally unaware of this, despite being somebody who follows Christian apologetics:

And I'm pretty sure there is no amputations as legal punishment in the bible, yah I 'm gonna say there isn't any amputations as legal punishments in the bible.

The Bible passage teaching the amputation of any woman who defends her husband against his assailant via an attack to the his private parts.

"[11] When men fight with one another, and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts, [12] then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall have no pity.” [RSV Deuteronomy 25:11-12]

Now, it is obvious that this passage is teaching hand chopping for any woman carrying out such a low blow. Dr Hector Avalos points out most scholars agree with the obvious reading of the passage (i.e. chopping off the woman’s hand):

Most scholars accept a literal interpretation. For example, Tikva Frymer-Kensky stated the following on p. 1033 of A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law (2 vols.; Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2003), which Dr. Matt Flannagan had cited before:

“The penalty for injury is talionic retribution (Lev.24:19-20). The exception is the woman who protects her brawling husband by grabbing the other man’s testicles with force...Her hand is to be cut off (Deut. 25:11-12). Intention does not count, even though she tried to save her husband rather than injure the victim.”  [Underhanded Biblical Interpretation: Deuteronomy 25:11-12 in Context by Dr. Hector Avalos]

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