Earlier stipulations required the capital penalty for various crimes committed directly against other people (21:12, 14–17). These three laws require the capital penalty for various crimes—sorcery (22:18), bestiality (v. 19), and apostasy (v. 20)—that rise to the level of treason against the Lord and/or his purposes in creation.

  V.D.  Further stipulations of the covenant, spoken to Moses for the people (21:1–23:19) . . .

8.  Further stipulations related to capital offenses (22:18–20)

a.  Sorcery (22:18)

b.  Bestiality (22:19)

c.  Apostasy (22:20)

How Do These Laws Function as Models, and What Are the “Floor” and the “Ceiling” of Each of Them?

In earlier comments it was noted that biblical laws often function as models that can be applied to related issues. It was further noted that laws often require a minimum standard of behavior (the floor) but also have an underlying value that points to a higher ethical ideal (the ceiling; cf. Response section on 20:1–21, “How Should the Ten Commandments Be Read?”). How do these principles apply to the three laws considered above?

The first law would prohibit not only sorcery but any biblically illicit activity by which someone tries to access or manipulate divine knowledge or power, such as magic, divination, or being a medium, spiritualist, fortune teller, or omen interpreter (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10; 2 Chron. 33:6; in a modern context, things such as reading palms, writing horoscopes, or using Ouija boards, tarot cards, or crystal balls would also be included). Instead we are expected to look to the Lord alone as the source of divine knowledge and power. In terms of divine knowledge the Bible’s view of the primary way to gain it is clear: study, learn, and pass on God’s Word (Deut. 6:1–9; Pss. 1:1–6; 19:7–14; 119:1–176; 2 Tim. 3:16–17). In terms of divine power, instead of our trying to wield it in our own hands (as sorcerers do), the Bible exhorts us to pray, looking to the Lord for deliverance from our trials and enemies as well as a more general experience of blessing and favor from him (Psalms 3–7; Phil. 4:6–7).

For the law prohibiting bestiality see the Response section on 20:1–21, “You shall not commit adultery.” For the law prohibiting sacrificing to other gods see the Response section on 20:1–21, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Why Are These Crimes So Serious?

What unites these crimes is that they are all serious acts of treason against the Lord and/or his purposes in creation. Sorcerers look to gods other than the Lord or attempt to manipulate the Lord’s own power (cf. 22:18). Bestiality explicitly rejects divisions that God established in creation, twisting and denying his purposes for sexual intimacy and thereby denying him as well (cf. v. 19). Worshiping other gods is a direct rejection of the Lord as sovereign King and God (v. 20). As serious acts of treason, they result in treason’s penalty: death. The Bible does not hesitate to say that the God who has the right to judge us when we die has the right to exercise such judgment while we live. For further thoughts on explaining such judgment in a modern age see the Response section on 13:17–15:21, “What Is the Warning?” and “How Do We Respond?”Exodus 22:18–20

Exodus 22:21–27