In defense of the Torah: Rebellious Sons, and Their Punishment. Part 1

~ “Put to death the rebellious son.” - Moses

Maimonides counted the command relative to this as 106 (Leviticus 19:26, Deuteronomy 21:20).

The definition of a rebellious son is who is, “Stubborn, gluttonous, and an alcoholic.”  In modern times, drunkard should be inclusive of a son who is a drug abuser.  To put to death a rebellious son is an obligation, meaning it is a good deed or mitzvah, yet this is something that courts of justice would have to support in order for it to be legal in the USA.  It is a command specifically for Jews and not gentiles.  However, I support gentiles adhering to this particular verse.  I am a Judaizer, which of course is forbidden according to Christians, but hopefully Christians will change for the better.

The following is text of the idea in question.  It is quoted from the 1917 JPS (Jewish Publication Society) Corrected Bible.  This Bible is free to download at www.sacred-texts.com

From Deuteronomy (JPS):

21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not hearken to the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them;

21:19 then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

21:20 and they shall say unto the elders of his city: 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he doth not hearken to our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.'

21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Attention Gentiles: According to Maimonides, Non-Jewish Goyim Can Be Holy Non-Jewish Priests

“In the words of the Rambam:  Not only the tribe of Levi, but each and every individual human being, whose spirit moves him, whose knowledge gives him understanding to set himself apart in order to stand before the Lord to serve Him, to worship Him, and to know Him, who walks upright as God created him to do, and releases him from the yoke  of the many foolish considerations which trouble people – such an individual is as consecrated as the Holy of Holies, and his portion and his inheritance shall be in the Lord forever and ever.  The Lord will grant him adequate sustenance in the world just as He granted to the priests and to the Levites.  Thus did David, peace be upon him, say, “O, Lord, the portion of my inheritance and of my cup, You maintain my lot.”