A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
According to scripture, the death penalty was invoked for murder, *blasphemy, *adultery, various sexual crimes, *idolatry, desecration of the *Sabbath, witchcraft, kidnapping and dishonouring parents. Two witnesses must testify to the crime and the perpetrator must previously have been warned.
The sentence could be carried out by stoning, burning or hanging. *Talmudic law mentions strangulation and slaying by the sword. In fact capital punishment was rarely imposed; several *sages advocated its abolition and, from early times, for some crimes, compensation could be paid instead. In the *diaspora, Jews were subject to the same laws and punishments as were current in their adopted countries.
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