Did the Old Testament allow mercy for criminals?

Sune

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.

Also, I'm not sure if this is in the right section of the site, please let me know if I need to move it. God bless you all.
 

Heavenhome

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This is very interesting and I've never thought about this.
However then I was reminded of Joseph forgiving Mary for being with child and not divorcing her.
Of course if you are looking specifically in the OT there couldn't be a better example as in the book Hosea where his wife Gomer was an adulteress but was forgiven by Hosea.
This is a beautiful example of how God is to all who have forsaken Him, but also the forgiveness a husband can have to his wife if so wills.
So there is/was a provision but perhaps few took it.
I'm interested in what others think.
 
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Yeshua HaDerekh

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.

Also, I'm not sure if this is in the right section of the site, please let me know if I need to move it. God bless you all.

There was intentional and unintentional sin. One example would be Joshua 20:2-6
 
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Carl Emerson

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What about the cities of refuge - fleeing there and holding on to the horns of the altar.

Numbers 35:6

Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which
a person who has killed someone may flee.
 
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Carl Emerson

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.

Also, I'm not sure if this is in the right section of the site, please let me know if I need to move it. God bless you all.

Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery and in doing so did not contravene the law.
 
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Tolworth John

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.

Also, I'm not sure if this is in the right section of the site, please let me know if I need to move it. God bless you all.

The la did two things it limited vengeance, an eye for an eye gave a maximum penalty and it also gave a proscribed penalty.
In the case of theft the storm items were to be returned plus five times the value as compensation and if unable to pay the thief could be sold.

Given the empersis on caring for the poor, especially poor relatives there would be social pressure on a wealthy man who abused his position.
Sadly the caring nature of the laws were forgotten in greed for possessions and power.
 
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UnpopularOpinion

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.

Also, I'm not sure if this is in the right section of the site, please let me know if I need to move it. God bless you all.

She would be took to elders for judgement , husband forgiving her does not matter since he is not the judge , she would be stoned.
 
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Tinker Grey

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Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery and in doing so did not contravene the law.
While theologically, Jesus may have forgiven her in his role as the son of God, he didn't have the legal authority to do so. He just shamed those carrying out the law.
 
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Carl Emerson

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While theologically, Jesus may have forgiven her in his role as the son of God, he didn't have the legal authority to do so. He just shamed those carrying out the law.

His authority was above the Law and He chose to keep the Law.

He didn't need the Law to justify forgiving the woman.
 
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Tinker Grey

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His authority was above the Law and He chose to keep the Law.

He didn't need the Law to justify forgiving the woman.
Yes. I said theologically he was above the law. I'm just making the point that the Sanhedrin and Romans did not recognize that as authority. Ergo, whether he forgave the woman or not, whether the law permitted it or not, his forgiveness has no bearing on those carrying out the law.
 
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Carl Emerson

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Yes. I said theologically he was above the law. I'm just making the point that the Sanhedrin and Romans did not recognize that as authority. Ergo, whether he forgave the woman or not, whether the law permitted it or not, his forgiveness has no bearing on those carrying out the law.

Yes it sounds like we have a similar perspective with different words...
 
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Sketcher

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I've been wondering about this recently. Given that Mosaic law requires criminals bring brought to the Elders for judgement, was it possible for someone to forgive someone and have the charges dismissed. For instance, could a husband in ancient Israel forgive a wife for adultery and not have her stoned, or a repentant criminal be granted a reduced sentence? I understand if this is unknown, I have just wondered about this recently.
If you're forgiving the person who sinned against you, and if you don't believe the perpetrator would continue to harm the community, why are you turning them in to the elders for judgement?
 
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Robban

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Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery and in doing so did not contravene the law.


It was gossip.

Judaism does not believe in free speech.

Talking ill of your neighbor, even if it is the truth
is unequivocally banned.

In fact the Talmud equates gossip mongering with idolatry, licentiousness and murder,

the three cardinal sins combined.

He did not listen to their gossip.


Is one possibility would reckon.
 
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Carl Emerson

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It was gossip.

Judaism does not believe in free speech.

Talking ill of your neighbor, even if it is the truth
is unequivocally banned.

In fact the Talmud equates gossip mongering with idolatry, licentiousness and murder,

the three cardinal sins combined.

He did not listen to their gossip.


Is one possibility would reckon.

So they were also lying about her being caught in the act?
 
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Robban

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So they were also lying about her being caught in the act?

The "Law" has not changed as it was so it is.

Problem being many do not even attempt to get a general hang of things even.

From Psalms;
"Why do the wicked take My Law on heir lips."

I do not know where the named incident is,
if you could post it, that would be fine.
 
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Carl Emerson

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The "Law" has not changed as it was so it is.

Problem being many do not even attempt to get a general hang of things even.

From Psalms;
"Why do the wicked take My Law on heir lips."

I do not know where the named incident is,
if you could post it, that would be fine.

John 8:

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
 
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Robban

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John 8:

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

He gave them a pretty smart answer.

Something like,

When I see dirt on my neighbors face,
it is because I am looking in the mirror.

:)
 
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Online.Gamer.79

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While theologically, Jesus may have forgiven her in his role as the son of God, he didn't have the legal authority to do so. He just shamed those carrying out the law.

Considering Jesus created the law I would assume he had all the authority
 
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