How do we rationalize a person's sins being solely their own when we have traditions that blame entire nations for certain acts? The Next CEO of Stack OverflowThe stoning of Achan's family“Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers” - Contradiction?Why did God sanction killing everything that breathes against the 7 nations?Why does there seem to be different standards for future sinners?Isn't the concept of mamzerut in violation of Ezekiel 18:19-20?“Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers” - Contradiction?what is the source that a parent carries the sins of their children when the children are minors?Rambam's seemingly contradictory statements about one who denies the Oral Law

IC has pull-down resistors on SMBus lines?

What day is it again?

Is French Guiana a (hard) EU border?

Why don't programming languages automatically manage the synchronous/asynchronous problem?

Computationally populating tables with probability data

Is it correct to say moon starry nights?

What happened in Rome, when the western empire "fell"?

Purpose of level-shifter with same in and out voltages

Can this note be analyzed as a non-chord tone?

TikZ: How to fill area with a special pattern?

Can you teleport closer to a creature you are Frightened of?

Does the Idaho Potato Commission associate potato skins with healthy eating?

I dug holes for my pergola too wide

Is it professional to write unrelated content in an almost-empty email?

Does higher Oxidation/ reduction potential translate to higher energy storage in battery?

Film where the government was corrupt with aliens, people sent to kill aliens are given rigged visors not showing the right aliens

Expectation in a stochastic differential equation

How to avoid supervisors with prejudiced views?

AB diagonalizable then BA also diagonalizable

Why is information "lost" when it got into a black hole?

Pulling the principal components out of a DimensionReducerFunction?

When "be it" is at the beginning of a sentence, what kind of structure do you call it?

what's the use of '% to gdp' type of variables?

Getting Stale Gas Out of a Gas Tank w/out Dropping the Tank



How do we rationalize a person's sins being solely their own when we have traditions that blame entire nations for certain acts?



The Next CEO of Stack OverflowThe stoning of Achan's family“Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers” - Contradiction?Why did God sanction killing everything that breathes against the 7 nations?Why does there seem to be different standards for future sinners?Isn't the concept of mamzerut in violation of Ezekiel 18:19-20?“Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers” - Contradiction?what is the source that a parent carries the sins of their children when the children are minors?Rambam's seemingly contradictory statements about one who denies the Oral Law










4















This is something I always found to be a bit of a contradiction.



The Torah states that a person's sins are their own to bear and that no one may die for the sins of another.




Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children be put to
death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own
crime. - Devarim 24:16




At the same time, we see examples where the Torah cites Hahsem is punishing either entire nations of people or multiple generations of people for a previous wrongdoing.



  • The killing of the Egyptian children for the sins of their parents.

  • The killing of the Canaanites (including children)

  • The killing of the Amalekites (including children)

Cursing multiple generations of those who worship graven images and false gods:




You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the LORD your God
am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the
children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who
reject Me, - Shemot 20:5




Psalms even speaks of it being a blessing to inflict punishments against others in the way they inflicted them upon us.




Fair Babylon, you predator, a blessing on him who repays you in kind
what you have inflicted on us; a blessing on him who seizes your
babies and dashes them against the rocks! - Tehillim 137:8-9




How exactly do we rationalize this with regards to the idea that sins fall upon the individual alone and not their entire community/family/nation?










share|improve this question

















  • 1





    Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 17:08












  • Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

    – user15464
    Mar 26 at 0:51















4















This is something I always found to be a bit of a contradiction.



The Torah states that a person's sins are their own to bear and that no one may die for the sins of another.




Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children be put to
death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own
crime. - Devarim 24:16




At the same time, we see examples where the Torah cites Hahsem is punishing either entire nations of people or multiple generations of people for a previous wrongdoing.



  • The killing of the Egyptian children for the sins of their parents.

  • The killing of the Canaanites (including children)

  • The killing of the Amalekites (including children)

Cursing multiple generations of those who worship graven images and false gods:




You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the LORD your God
am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the
children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who
reject Me, - Shemot 20:5




Psalms even speaks of it being a blessing to inflict punishments against others in the way they inflicted them upon us.




Fair Babylon, you predator, a blessing on him who repays you in kind
what you have inflicted on us; a blessing on him who seizes your
babies and dashes them against the rocks! - Tehillim 137:8-9




How exactly do we rationalize this with regards to the idea that sins fall upon the individual alone and not their entire community/family/nation?










share|improve this question

















  • 1





    Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 17:08












  • Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

    – user15464
    Mar 26 at 0:51













4












4








4








This is something I always found to be a bit of a contradiction.



The Torah states that a person's sins are their own to bear and that no one may die for the sins of another.




Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children be put to
death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own
crime. - Devarim 24:16




At the same time, we see examples where the Torah cites Hahsem is punishing either entire nations of people or multiple generations of people for a previous wrongdoing.



  • The killing of the Egyptian children for the sins of their parents.

  • The killing of the Canaanites (including children)

  • The killing of the Amalekites (including children)

Cursing multiple generations of those who worship graven images and false gods:




You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the LORD your God
am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the
children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who
reject Me, - Shemot 20:5




Psalms even speaks of it being a blessing to inflict punishments against others in the way they inflicted them upon us.




Fair Babylon, you predator, a blessing on him who repays you in kind
what you have inflicted on us; a blessing on him who seizes your
babies and dashes them against the rocks! - Tehillim 137:8-9




How exactly do we rationalize this with regards to the idea that sins fall upon the individual alone and not their entire community/family/nation?










share|improve this question














This is something I always found to be a bit of a contradiction.



The Torah states that a person's sins are their own to bear and that no one may die for the sins of another.




Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children be put to
death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own
crime. - Devarim 24:16




At the same time, we see examples where the Torah cites Hahsem is punishing either entire nations of people or multiple generations of people for a previous wrongdoing.



  • The killing of the Egyptian children for the sins of their parents.

  • The killing of the Canaanites (including children)

  • The killing of the Amalekites (including children)

Cursing multiple generations of those who worship graven images and false gods:




You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the LORD your God
am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the
children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who
reject Me, - Shemot 20:5




Psalms even speaks of it being a blessing to inflict punishments against others in the way they inflicted them upon us.




Fair Babylon, you predator, a blessing on him who repays you in kind
what you have inflicted on us; a blessing on him who seizes your
babies and dashes them against the rocks! - Tehillim 137:8-9




How exactly do we rationalize this with regards to the idea that sins fall upon the individual alone and not their entire community/family/nation?







sin curse contradiction






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Mar 24 at 16:24









AvriAvri

1,048112




1,048112







  • 1





    Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 17:08












  • Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

    – user15464
    Mar 26 at 0:51












  • 1





    Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 17:08












  • Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

    – user15464
    Mar 26 at 0:51







1




1





Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 17:08






Duplicate? judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83420 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/36478 judaism.stackexchange.com/q/83035

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 17:08














Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

– user15464
Mar 26 at 0:51





Possible duplicate of "Fathers shall not be put to death because of sons, nor shall sons be put to death because of fathers" - Contradiction?

– user15464
Mar 26 at 0:51










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














According to Sanhedrin 27b, children are punished for their fathers’ sins only when they follow in their footsteps; children who do not follow the sins of their fathers are not punished on their account.




ובנים בעון אבות לא והכתיב (שמות לד, ז) פוקד עון אבות על בנים התם כשאוחזין מעשה אבותיהן בידיהן



Are children not punished for their fathers’ sins? But it is written: He remembers the sins of the fathers on the children! That is when they grab hold of the actions of their fathers in their hands.




In all of the examples you brought, the children were just as guilty as the fathers.



Further, Sifri Devarim 280 understands that minors can be punished for their fathers’ sins:




איש בחטאו יומתו. גדולים מתים בעון עצמם, קטנים מתים בעון אבותם.



”Each man for his sin will they die” - Majors die for their own sins, minors die for their fathers’ sins.







share|improve this answer

























  • Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

    – barbecue
    Mar 24 at 19:41






  • 1





    @barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:58











  • My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

    – barbecue
    Mar 25 at 3:39


















-1














  1. Your first quote is only relevant for a Beis Din, for Earthy punishments. One can not offer himself to be stoned instead of his son that sinned, for example.



  2. Traditionally (source needed) the souls are reincarnations of previous souls, bearing their deeds and judgments. Similarly to the 9-dots-4 lines puzzle, as we are unable to solve the justice/injustice paradox within this world (for example why little kids suffer terrible illnesses and death), we have to assume that both souls and judgments extend to the pre-after-world.



    Therefore G-d allows himself to judge single people, nations and generations by being able to see the big picture extending the limits of this world.







share|improve this answer























  • #1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:59











  • @DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

    – Al Berko
    Mar 24 at 20:03











  • The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 20:04


















2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









2














According to Sanhedrin 27b, children are punished for their fathers’ sins only when they follow in their footsteps; children who do not follow the sins of their fathers are not punished on their account.




ובנים בעון אבות לא והכתיב (שמות לד, ז) פוקד עון אבות על בנים התם כשאוחזין מעשה אבותיהן בידיהן



Are children not punished for their fathers’ sins? But it is written: He remembers the sins of the fathers on the children! That is when they grab hold of the actions of their fathers in their hands.




In all of the examples you brought, the children were just as guilty as the fathers.



Further, Sifri Devarim 280 understands that minors can be punished for their fathers’ sins:




איש בחטאו יומתו. גדולים מתים בעון עצמם, קטנים מתים בעון אבותם.



”Each man for his sin will they die” - Majors die for their own sins, minors die for their fathers’ sins.







share|improve this answer

























  • Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

    – barbecue
    Mar 24 at 19:41






  • 1





    @barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:58











  • My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

    – barbecue
    Mar 25 at 3:39















2














According to Sanhedrin 27b, children are punished for their fathers’ sins only when they follow in their footsteps; children who do not follow the sins of their fathers are not punished on their account.




ובנים בעון אבות לא והכתיב (שמות לד, ז) פוקד עון אבות על בנים התם כשאוחזין מעשה אבותיהן בידיהן



Are children not punished for their fathers’ sins? But it is written: He remembers the sins of the fathers on the children! That is when they grab hold of the actions of their fathers in their hands.




In all of the examples you brought, the children were just as guilty as the fathers.



Further, Sifri Devarim 280 understands that minors can be punished for their fathers’ sins:




איש בחטאו יומתו. גדולים מתים בעון עצמם, קטנים מתים בעון אבותם.



”Each man for his sin will they die” - Majors die for their own sins, minors die for their fathers’ sins.







share|improve this answer

























  • Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

    – barbecue
    Mar 24 at 19:41






  • 1





    @barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:58











  • My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

    – barbecue
    Mar 25 at 3:39













2












2








2







According to Sanhedrin 27b, children are punished for their fathers’ sins only when they follow in their footsteps; children who do not follow the sins of their fathers are not punished on their account.




ובנים בעון אבות לא והכתיב (שמות לד, ז) פוקד עון אבות על בנים התם כשאוחזין מעשה אבותיהן בידיהן



Are children not punished for their fathers’ sins? But it is written: He remembers the sins of the fathers on the children! That is when they grab hold of the actions of their fathers in their hands.




In all of the examples you brought, the children were just as guilty as the fathers.



Further, Sifri Devarim 280 understands that minors can be punished for their fathers’ sins:




איש בחטאו יומתו. גדולים מתים בעון עצמם, קטנים מתים בעון אבותם.



”Each man for his sin will they die” - Majors die for their own sins, minors die for their fathers’ sins.







share|improve this answer















According to Sanhedrin 27b, children are punished for their fathers’ sins only when they follow in their footsteps; children who do not follow the sins of their fathers are not punished on their account.




ובנים בעון אבות לא והכתיב (שמות לד, ז) פוקד עון אבות על בנים התם כשאוחזין מעשה אבותיהן בידיהן



Are children not punished for their fathers’ sins? But it is written: He remembers the sins of the fathers on the children! That is when they grab hold of the actions of their fathers in their hands.




In all of the examples you brought, the children were just as guilty as the fathers.



Further, Sifri Devarim 280 understands that minors can be punished for their fathers’ sins:




איש בחטאו יומתו. גדולים מתים בעון עצמם, קטנים מתים בעון אבותם.



”Each man for his sin will they die” - Majors die for their own sins, minors die for their fathers’ sins.








share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Mar 24 at 17:12

























answered Mar 24 at 16:56









DonielFDonielF

16.5k12586




16.5k12586












  • Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

    – barbecue
    Mar 24 at 19:41






  • 1





    @barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:58











  • My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

    – barbecue
    Mar 25 at 3:39

















  • Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

    – barbecue
    Mar 24 at 19:41






  • 1





    @barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:58











  • My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

    – barbecue
    Mar 25 at 3:39
















Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

– barbecue
Mar 24 at 19:41





Can you explain further why "the children were just as guilty as the fathers" in each case?

– barbecue
Mar 24 at 19:41




1




1





@barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 19:58





@barbecue The Egyptians tormented the Jews; their children tormented the Jews. The Canaanites were idol worshippers; their children were idol worshippers. Etc. Plus the underage children can be punished even when innocent for their parents’ sins. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory, really.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 19:58













My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

– barbecue
Mar 25 at 3:39





My intention was that you add more detail to your answer to explain WHY the cases are different.

– barbecue
Mar 25 at 3:39











-1














  1. Your first quote is only relevant for a Beis Din, for Earthy punishments. One can not offer himself to be stoned instead of his son that sinned, for example.



  2. Traditionally (source needed) the souls are reincarnations of previous souls, bearing their deeds and judgments. Similarly to the 9-dots-4 lines puzzle, as we are unable to solve the justice/injustice paradox within this world (for example why little kids suffer terrible illnesses and death), we have to assume that both souls and judgments extend to the pre-after-world.



    Therefore G-d allows himself to judge single people, nations and generations by being able to see the big picture extending the limits of this world.







share|improve this answer























  • #1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:59











  • @DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

    – Al Berko
    Mar 24 at 20:03











  • The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 20:04















-1














  1. Your first quote is only relevant for a Beis Din, for Earthy punishments. One can not offer himself to be stoned instead of his son that sinned, for example.



  2. Traditionally (source needed) the souls are reincarnations of previous souls, bearing their deeds and judgments. Similarly to the 9-dots-4 lines puzzle, as we are unable to solve the justice/injustice paradox within this world (for example why little kids suffer terrible illnesses and death), we have to assume that both souls and judgments extend to the pre-after-world.



    Therefore G-d allows himself to judge single people, nations and generations by being able to see the big picture extending the limits of this world.







share|improve this answer























  • #1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:59











  • @DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

    – Al Berko
    Mar 24 at 20:03











  • The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 20:04













-1












-1








-1







  1. Your first quote is only relevant for a Beis Din, for Earthy punishments. One can not offer himself to be stoned instead of his son that sinned, for example.



  2. Traditionally (source needed) the souls are reincarnations of previous souls, bearing their deeds and judgments. Similarly to the 9-dots-4 lines puzzle, as we are unable to solve the justice/injustice paradox within this world (for example why little kids suffer terrible illnesses and death), we have to assume that both souls and judgments extend to the pre-after-world.



    Therefore G-d allows himself to judge single people, nations and generations by being able to see the big picture extending the limits of this world.







share|improve this answer













  1. Your first quote is only relevant for a Beis Din, for Earthy punishments. One can not offer himself to be stoned instead of his son that sinned, for example.



  2. Traditionally (source needed) the souls are reincarnations of previous souls, bearing their deeds and judgments. Similarly to the 9-dots-4 lines puzzle, as we are unable to solve the justice/injustice paradox within this world (for example why little kids suffer terrible illnesses and death), we have to assume that both souls and judgments extend to the pre-after-world.



    Therefore G-d allows himself to judge single people, nations and generations by being able to see the big picture extending the limits of this world.








share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Mar 24 at 18:09









Al BerkoAl Berko

6,3251529




6,3251529












  • #1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:59











  • @DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

    – Al Berko
    Mar 24 at 20:03











  • The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 20:04

















  • #1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 19:59











  • @DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

    – Al Berko
    Mar 24 at 20:03











  • The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

    – DonielF
    Mar 24 at 20:04
















#1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 19:59





#1 isn’t necessarily true; see the Gemara I cite in my answer.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 19:59













@DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

– Al Berko
Mar 24 at 20:03





@DonielF Do you mean "the children were just as guilty as the fathers."? So they are punished on their own - what the big deal?

– Al Berko
Mar 24 at 20:03













The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 20:04





The problem is that the Gemara applies both Pesukim to the Heavenly courts as well.

– DonielF
Mar 24 at 20:04



Popular posts from this blog

He _____ here since 1970 . Answer needed [closed]What does “since he was so high” mean?Meaning of “catch birds for”?How do I ensure “since” takes the meaning I want?“Who cares here” meaningWhat does “right round toward” mean?the time tense (had now been detected)What does the phrase “ring around the roses” mean here?Correct usage of “visited upon”Meaning of “foiled rail sabotage bid”It was the third time I had gone to Rome or It is the third time I had been to Rome

Bunad

Færeyskur hestur Heimild | Tengill | Tilvísanir | LeiðsagnarvalRossið - síða um færeyska hrossið á færeyskuGott ár hjá færeyska hestinum