SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS. xviii

CHAPTER VIII.

MISHNAS I. TO VIII. A stubborn and rebellious son—at what age may he be considered as such? From the time he brings forth two hairs A biological sign of puberty., but the sages used to speak with delicacy. A minor of nine years and one day is fit to have relations with a woman, and in a case of adultery, it is considered. Whence do we know that the first generation produced children at the age of eight? A daughter should be more open to the charges of stubbornness and rebelliousness, but the decree of the Scripture is—“a son, and not a daughter.” He cannot be condemned as a stubborn and rebellious son unless he eats meat and drinks wine. You shall not look for wine which makes red the faces of the wicked in this world, and makes them pale in the world to come. Thirteen ways are enumerated in the Scripture concerning wine, as in Genesis 9:20–25. If he has stolen from his father and consumed it on his premises, he is not charged as a stubborn and rebellious son unless he stole from his mother and father. If the father is willing to transfer the case of the son in question to the court, and the mother is not willing, or vice versa, etc. Such a thing neither occurred nor ever will be—the same is true for the "misled town" and the "house of leprosy"—and it was written only for study. If one hand of his father or mother is missing, or they limp, or are dumb, etc. If he runs away before the decision of condemnation is rendered, etc. The Scripture prefers that he should die innocent, and not be put to death because of his sins. For the death of the wicked is both a benefit to them and a benefit to the world. In the case of “breaking in” [Exodus 12:1], for which there is no liability if one is killed by a detector, one is also punished because of his future crimes. A burglar who broke in and succeeded in taking some utensils and escaped is free from paying because he acquired title to them by his blood i.e., he risked his life to obtain them.. It happened that rams were stolen from Rabha by burglary and thereafter they were returned to him; he would not accept them because the above decision came from the mouth of Rabh. . . 201–216

MISHNA IX. The following may be killed for self-protection: He who pursues one to kill him, and he who pursues a betrothed damsel, etc. According to the rabbis, the Scripture cares for the violation of her honor, and as she also cares for it, though without life-sacrifice, she must be saved even by killing her pursuers. One who intends to worship idols may be killed if there is no possibility of preventing his crime otherwise. In the city of Luda, it was voted and resolved that if one were compelled, under threat of being killed, to commit any one of the crimes mentioned in the Torah, he might commit it and not be killed, except for idolatry, adultery, and bloodshed. Is a descendant of Noah commanded to sanctify the Holy Name, or not? It happened to one that he saw a woman and became sick through his infatuation. . . 216–221

CHAPTER IX.

MISHNAS I. TO VI. Punishment of burning applies to one man who has intercourse with a woman and her daughter, and to a daughter of a priest.