Casting the first stone in a Jewish Light

Jesus "bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground" twice as he was being questioned by the prosecuting authorities. "And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground" (John 8:6, 8, NRSV). Actually, the well-known proverb "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" is bracketed by several instances of writing in the dust. I am attempting to analyze this from a Jewish standpoint, but I'm not sure how to structure my search. I would appreciate any guidance on framing this kind of search.

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David Thomas

I am attempting to analyze this from a Jewish standpoint

a practice in futility because there is not one "Jewish standpoint". there were at least 4 sects of the Jews (Saducees, Pharisees, Herodians, Zealots) and each Rabbi may have had an individual take on this.

DMB

Well, you'd certainly want to begin with Deu 17:7 and if available to you, Jewish comments on that passage.

The issue, of course, you'll run into, is whether the Pharisees were indeed witnesses to the 'vary act' (or simply a policy discussion).

From the Mishnah m. Sanhedrin 6:4 below. Interestingly, after stoning, he's gets 'crucified' for display, until dark.

6:4 A The place of stoning was twice the height of a man.

B One of the witnesses pushes him over from the hips, so [hard] that he turned upward [in his fall].

C He turns him over on his hips again [to see whether he had died].

D [If] he had died thereby, that sufficed.

E If not, the second [witness] takes a stone and puts it on his heart.

F [If] he died thereby, it sufficed.

G And if not, stoning him is [the duty] of all Israelites, as it is said, The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people (Dt. 17:7).

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1285438#Comment_1285438

I am looking for this interpretation from a biblical and Jewish NT perspective. The Jewish comments on Deut 17:7 is great.