Reading through JPS Tanakh Junior Edition, it is shameful how people misrepresent Torah. This is especially offensive, because they try to make it look like official Judah Holy Scripture. However, it better than other versions, so I may occasionally quote passages. If ever questioning the Bible, read other versions. One way to verify translation accuracy, though not always reliable, is whether or not everyone is killed for sin.
A copy translated by someone without fluency in Hebrew ignores the statement, "stone and exile." In Leviticus 25, exiled are allowed to return home. Clearly dead do not return home during jubilee. There are only three reasons to execute someone: murder, human sacrifice and cannibalism. Murder is not dismissed because the person was hunting other human beings. Some interpretation include burning a man or woman who marries both parent and child of spouse. They are tied to a wooden post and burned alive. Questioning this, perhaps they are only branded, so other people know of their sin. In incidents of family committing incest up to the second cousin and fornicating with any child are stoned and exiled. It seems severe to burn someone alive for a similar sin.
The Ten Commandments remain fairly consistent. Let us reflect on Exodus 20:12, "Honor thy Father and Mother." Some bibles state, "Respect your parents or they will cast you out of their home." Parents are any adult raising children: blood relative, guardian or adopted. Sometimes people are confused by raising children who are not blood related; however, when an adult accepts responsibility for raising a child through signing papers or marrying a spouse they accept the child as their own and the child should be treated the same as a blood relative.
Deuteronomy 21:18 reflects on the disobedient son. This version suggests stoning the young man to death; however, in truth they are taken to the gate and the community pelts stones at them. This is meant help the child realize consequences of being dismissed from the family home or sent into exile.
Often people think the commandment to honor parents entitles parents to beat their children. This is not true. It is assumed parents abide by God's Word and are honorable. Levels of abuse or training should be addressed to promote well-being of a child into adulthood. Abuse may cause paradoxes in a child's ability to grasp concepts in the Bible.
What happens when a parent is dishonorable? The child scorns their parents. Parents attempting to manipulate or create personal gains from their children are called, "vipers." This works into appealing symbolism, because baby vipers swarm the mother and devour her. Children grow from additional work and hardships. One day they leave home and throw off their parent's yolk. When this happens the child crush the head of their parent's, like a snake, under their heels.
This is not fabled. Many times raised as burdens by parents, whether biological, adopted or through marriage find fortune and never return home after escaping. Cinderella turned her evil step-mother and step-sisters into scullery maids after marrying the prince. Perhaps a fairytale, yet the trends are observable in life. Lead by example, children will gain blessings to throw off parental yolk. For as many people who have risen above, there are many who died young.
It is difficult to know how to be honorable when commonly read bibles are filled with misconceptions. Some misconceptions revolve around special laws for Aaron's Sons. (Aaron is the guy who made a gold calf for everyone to worship. God wanted to kill him, but Moses asked for his life to be spared.) Priestly laws in Leviticus are strenuous to punish Aaron. They may only marry virgins. Regular people can marry anyone; including, windows and divorcees. That is confusing. There are also rules pertaining to virginity in chapter 22; however, this pertains to deception since men can be deceived into marriage with claims of virginity and no one is, "stoned to death." In addition, after they went into the Holy Land all of the laws pertaining to priests were dismissed and only the laws pertaining to regular civilians remain.
Discharge of seamen is listed as a sin, yet the only punishment is to talk to the Rabi. In essence it is time to discuss manhood. What are the obligation between parent and child? Deuteronomy 24:16 acknowledges children shall not be punished for the parent's sins. The parent will not be punished for the child's sin. Leviticus 19:29 discusses how a parent should not sell their children into prostitution; otherwise, the whole land will be prostitutes and everyone falls to depravity. No one should be punished for another's sins, yet several Bibles states bastards are not allowed into congregations?
Essentially, a child must mature and find ethics before teaching them to a child. When parents raise children as continuation of their lineage, they are better prepared to be good parents. Though despite best efforts some always find fault with their parents; however, their parents worked hard to have enough to share with their offspring and with enough life experience eventually the child will be thankful.
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