Deuteronomy 21:18

18 "Suppose someone has a son who is stubborn and rebellious, a son who will not obey his parents, even though they punish him.

Deuteronomy 21:18 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:18

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son
It is observed F23 that this law quickly follows, and is subjoined to that which relates to the marriage of a woman taken captive, because often from such marriages wicked and refractory children have sprung, and which they exemplify in the case of Absalom, whose mother they say David took in war and married: the character of such a son follows, and by which it may be known that he is stubborn and rebellious; stubborn in his nature, and rebellious in his actions; behaves contrary to the laws of God, and the instructions of his parents; what he should do, that he does not; and what he should not do, that he does; will not do what is commanded him, and will do what is forbidden him, notwithstanding all counsels, admonitions, and corrections given him;

which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his
mother;
is disobedient to the commands of either of them; see ( Proverbs 30:17 ) and, when they have chastened him, will not hearken to them; when they have reproved him by words, and corrected him with blows; the Jews understand this of scourging or beating by the order of the sanhedrim, after admonition given; it is said F24,

``they admonish him before three (a court of judicature consisting of three judges), and they beat him; but it seems rather to respect private corrections of their own by words and stripes, which having no effect, they were to proceed as follows.''


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Moses Kotensis Mitzvot Torah, pr. affirm. 122. Kimchi in 2 Sam. 3. 3.
F24 Misn. Sandedrin, c. 8. sect. 4.

Deuteronomy 21:18 In-Context

16 When the man decides how he is going to divide his property among his children, he is not to show partiality to the son of his favorite wife by giving him the share that belongs to the first-born son.
17 He is to give a double share of his possessions to his first son, even though he is not the son of his favorite wife. A man must acknowledge his first son and give him the share he is legally entitled to.
18 "Suppose someone has a son who is stubborn and rebellious, a son who will not obey his parents, even though they punish him.
19 His parents are to take him before the leaders of the town where he lives and make him stand trial.
20 They are to say to them, "Our son is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey us; he wastes money and is a drunkard.'
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.