Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 8:26 (New Living Translation)

But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where they Egyptians can see us, they will stone us…

Notice how the Egyptians used stoning—circle a person and throw rocks at them until they are dead—as capital punishment. The children of Israel were to adopt this practice in their law from the LORD.

I can speculate as to why the Egyptians used it and why the LORD later called His people to use it. Perhaps it was a simple matter of economy—rocks were pretty cheap. Perhaps it was the necessity of the community to be involved in the punishment of one of their own. Did the LORD cause the Egyptians to use stoning as a precursor to His command to His people? Again, simple speculation on my part.