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Indiana University Studies 
observance, sacrifices, purification of women, leprosy, clean- 
ness, animal atonement, sins, idols, Molech worship, blas- 
phemy, incest, sodomy, robbery. 75 ; The people before this time 
had reached such a national estate that the offense against 
the national deity had become a national crime punishable by 
stoning. The law in regard to interest had become modified 
so as to allow Jews to take interest of strangers. This was 
made necessary by the fact that they had now become a com- 
mercial people instead of an agricultural, as they had once 
before changed from a nomadic to an agricultural people . 76 
In this late period of development of the criminal law also 
occurred a change in procedure. The elders of the city of a 
man’s crime now took the refugee from the city of refuge to 
that city for trial. If they found that the killing was a wilful 
homicide they turned him over to the avenger. Otherwise he 
was sent back to the city of refuge until the death of the high 
priest, when he with all the rest in the city could return in 
safety to their habitations . 77 
The law of contracts and conveyancing goes back to the 
patria potestas of the time before Moses. It really had its 
The Deuteronomic code took away the right of divorce (22 Deut. 28, 29). The 
Priestly code provided for such punishment as the authorities should determine in 
the case of the seduction of a female slave (19 Lev. 20). 
Incest. Incest was forbidden under penalty of a curse by the Deuteronomic code 
(22 Deut. 30 ; 27 Deut. 20, 22, 23) ; and it was forbidden under penalty of death by the 
Priestly code (18 Lev. 6-18; 20 Lev. 11, 12, 14, 17, 19-21). 
Sodomy. Sodomy was prohibited by the Deuteronomic code (23 Deut. 17, 18), and 
the penalty of death was provided by the Priestly code (18 Lev. 22; 20 Lev. 13). 
Bestiality. This was a crime thruout Hebrew history, but Deuteronomy names the 
penalty of a curse instead of death (22 Exod. 19; 27 Deut. 21; 18 Dev. 23; 20 Lev. 15). 
Prostitution. Prostitution seems originally to have been practiced among the 
Hebrews in the name of religion (38 Gen. 14 ; Kedeshah, the designation of a harlot, 
means consecrated), but it was prohibited under penalty of death by both the Deuter- 
onomic and Priestly codes (23 Deut. 17, 18; 22 Deut. 13-21; 21 Lev. 9). 
Indecent Assault by a wife was punished by the cutting off of her hand according 
to the Deuteronomic code (25 Deut. 11, 12). 
Mixture of Species of both grain and cattle was prohibited but without penalty by 
both Deuteronomy and the Priestly codes (22 Deut. 9-11 ; 19 Lev. 19). 
Interest was forbidden to be taken from an Israelite (22 Exod. 25 ; 23 Deut. 19, 20 ; 
25 Lev. 35, 38). 
Various other wrongs were prohibited but without definite criminal punishment: 
Bribery (8 Exod. 23 ; 27 Deut. 25) ; Perverting Justice (23 Exod. 13, 6, 7 ; 16 Deut. 
19, 20; 19 Lev. 15, 35) ; Lying (19 Lev. 11) ; Slander (23 Exod. 1 ; 19 Lev. 16) ; Covet- 
ousness (20 Exod. 17; 5 Deut. 21) ; False Weights and Measures (25 Deut. 13-16; 19 
Lev. 35-37). 
Perjury. Perjury was prohibited and punished by both the Deuteronomic and 
Priestly codes (20 Exod. 16; 19 Deut. 16-21; 19 Lev. 12; 5 Lev. 1, 4-13), altho only 
prohibited by a primitive code. 
Defiance of law was punishable by death according to the Deuteronomic code (17 
Deut. 12, 13; Cf. 15 Num. 30, 31). 
Crimes against property were practically unknown (Cf. 27 Deut. 17). What are 
treated as crimes by us were regarded only as torts by the Hebrews and redressed by 
restitution and reparation: Theft (22 Exod. 1; 6 Lev. 2-7; 23 Deut. 24-25; 19 Deut. 
14) ; Arson (22 Exod. 6) ; Trespass (22 Exod. 5). 
75 25-31 Exod.; 35-40 Exod.; 1-8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17-26 Lev.; 15, 16, 18, 31, 
35 Num. 
76 In 1806 A.D. the Sanhedrin definitely approved of a Jew’s taking interest of 
another Jew. 
Polygamy was abolished by the Sanhedrin in the eleventh century. 
77 The occurrence of the words “high priest’’ here instead of the word “king” shows 
that the origin of the law was after the Babylonian captivity. 20 Josh. 6. 
