Where does the Bible state that Moses stoned a woman who committed adultery?
Question:
In the new movie the Ten Commandments. Moses throws the first stone at a woman that committed adultery. Where is this stated in the book of Exodus?
Answer:
While I'm glad that Hollywood every once in a while decides to make a movie about decent subjects, I personally hate to watch them because I notice all the flaws. It is rare for a person to create a work based on the Bible and not feel they have to modify events to make it suit their personal agenda.
Adultery is mentioned three times in the books written by Moses. Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18 are references to the Ten Commandments. Leviticus 20:10 states that adultery is punishable by death, but does not state how that death penalty is to be carried out. Leviticus 18:20 doesn't use the word "adultery" but prohibits sexual acts with another man's wife. Deuteronomy 22:22 is like Leviticus 20:10 but stating generally that lying with another man's wife is punishable by death. The following verses dealing with sex with a betrothed woman and rape specifically mention death by stoning, but the earlier verse doesn't directly require this punishment.
In Leviticus 24:23, Moses issues a ruling as a judge that a man who cursed had to be stoned, and this was done, but there is no mention of Moses being the first to throw a stone. In Numbers 15:32-36 a man was caught breaking the Sabbath rules and God, through Moses, stated that he had to be stoned to death, but again, no mention is made that Moses threw the first stone. The remaining references to stones or stoning were the laws regarding the proper punishment for various instances of breaking the law.
Thus, the movie fabricated the event.
