Deuteronomy 21:19

17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn ^aby giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he ^bis the beginning of his strength; ^cthe right of the firstborn is his.

The Rebellious Son

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them,

19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.

20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’

21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; ^aso you shall put away the evil from among you, ^band all Israel shall hear and fear.

Miscellaneous Laws

22 “If a man has committed a sin ^adeserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,

23 ^ahis body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that ^byou do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for ^che who is hanged is accursed of God.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does Deuteronomy 21:19 Mean?

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

We can dishonor our parents through stubbornness, mocking, scorning, angrily talking back to them, thievery, and violence. These will eventually be punished by death, shame, disgrace, darkness of understanding (ignorance), and destruction. Through greedy human reasoning, the Pharisees encouraged financial neglect of parents to increase the riches of the treasury, a hypocrisy Jesus condemned (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-13).

Martin G. Collins
The Fifth Commandment

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

If a child was unmanageable, stubborn, and disobedient, God empowered the judges to back up the parents. However, regardless of their level of exasperation, the parents had no right to put to their child to death. The elders of the city tried the child, evidence was presented, and they executed the judgment.

It is interesting that the parents charge their son with drunkenness. It does not mean a one-time binge but repeated offenses implying alcoholism, which is a drug addiction. Drug addiction is a major problem today. The wisdom of God reveals this alternative for dealing with it. Is it offensive that God is so stern? He does not pass this problem off as of little consequence or significance! Look at what it is doing to American society.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The First Commandment (1997)

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Deuteronomy 21:19:**

Leviticus 21:15-17

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