Criminals in the Bible (Essay Sample)

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Criminals in the Bible
How could it be that Moses, the man who brought the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai, committed the crimes of homicide, concealing a homicide, and fleeing from justice? Moses, as the author points out, is one more case of many Biblical heroes' capacity for wrongdoing. This book is an illuminating study of some of the Good Book's most significant transgressions with humans. Jones includes such infamous evildoers as Cain, Jezebel, and the highwaymen who robbed the Good Samaritan, yet he also brings in such Old Testament icons as Moses and David. In addition, he profiles the cases of some, like John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, who were falsely accused or who broke an unjust law or one superseded by God's law.
The evidence and lines of reasoning used by the author expound on the literature. Jones cites a number of scholarly articles that support his themes. A review of the sources used shows that the author's perspective is justified historically. Further, as mentioned above the author uses a literature perspective to fully expound on his themes. This is seen by the author's mention and explanation of stylistic devices used in the story of Jonah. On a historical perspective, in order to explain some facts in the story of Jonah, the author gives accounts on historical background of some Jewish practices and punishment.
It is important to review the themes given in the title by the author. An exploration of the themes will help view the significance of the essay. Therefore, a close look at each of the themes is necessary. First, is a look at the theme on people's crimes against God. In an introduction to the perspective on prophesy. The author mentions that Jonah is not a conventional prophetic account like that of Jeremiah and Isaiah (Jones 48). The intensification showed during the call of Jonah sets his prophetic mission apart from all the others. Jonah, as it is seen in the introductory phase of the story, spends most of his time escaping from God. Further, the author argues that the story is scripturally one of the Books of the Prophets but it clearly lacks the monumentalism associated with so many of the others (Jones 47).
Jones's exposition is enriched by his research of Biblical scholarship and by his expertise as a professor of criminal justice at East Carolina University. His previous books include Criminal Justice Pioneers in U.S. History and Community Corrections. Each of Jones's cases follows roughly the same format. They begin with a quote from Scripture, which may run from a few lines to two pages, followed by background information on the principal characters. Queen Jezebel chastises King Ahab for his inability to terrorize his subjects ("Is this how you act as King over Israel?”), then forces two men to testify that a landowner named Naboth has disavowed God and the King. This results in the stoning of Naboth, which allows Ahab to seize his land. Jones delves into the background for Jezebel's reputation among modern Christians as a Lady Macbeth-like figure.
It may well be that, in order for a period of separation and confinement to be effective in preventing an offender from committing more crimes upon release, it would have to look so different from prisons as we know them today as to not even be called "prison" in the first place. But if reliance on the Bible leads to adoption of measures that prioritize the dignity of individuals and result in the reduction of crime—as opposed to our spiraling cycle of incarceration, more crime, more prisons, and yet more incarcerations—that would not be such a bad thing.
A section called "the crime" interprets the text with respect to alleged or actual wrongdoings, often defining criminal terms and referring to Mosaic Law. A "modern view" section takes the wrongdoing into the present. In the chapter exploring Jezebel's crime, Jones refers to the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the O.J. Simpson trial, and quotes Samuel Johnson and Harvard philosopher Sissela Bok. The author ends each case with a "lessons" section, in which he suggests implications of the reading for Christians today. Often, the most important lesson cited is God's forgiveness ("There is no sin that is unforgivable”), but he generally foregoes preaching, instead using common sense and story examples t