The Roman Scourge
Roman Scourge
Instrument
The Romans would, according to
custom, scourge a condemned criminal before he was put to death. The
Roman scourge, also called the "flagrum" or "flagellum" was a short
whip made of two or three leather (ox-hide) thongs or ropes
connected to a handle as in the sketch above. The leather thongs
were knotted with a number of small pieces of metal, usually zinc
and iron, attached at various intervals. Scourging would quickly
remove the skin. According to history the punishment of a slave was
particularly dreadful. The leather was knotted with bones, or heavy
indented pieces of bronze.
Sometimes the Roman scourge contained a hook at the end and was
given the terrifying name "scorpion." The criminal was made to stoop
which would make deeper lashes from the shoulders to the waist.
According to Jewish law (discipline of the synagogue) the number of
stripes was forty less one (Deut. 25:3) and the rabbis reckoned 168
actions to be punished by scourging before the judges. Nevertheless,
scourging among the Romans was a more severe form of punishment and
there was no legal limit to the number of blows, as with the Jews.
Deep lacerations, torn flesh, exposed muscles and excessive bleeding
would leave the criminal "half-dead." Death was often the result of
this cruel form of punishment though it was necessary to keep the
criminal alive to be brought to public subjugation on the cross. The
Centurion in charge would order the "lictors" to halt the flogging
when the criminal was near death.
"But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah
53:5-6
Flagellum, Symbol of Sol
Notice on the above ancient Roman coin the flagellum is the symbol
of Sol the sun-god.
In ancient Rome crucifixion was
almost always preceded by the "flagrum" and thus it made the vision
of the crucified criminal all the more dreadful. Cicero called
crucifixion the "extreme and ultimate punishment of slaves" (servitutis
extremum summumque supplicium, Against Verres 2.5.169), and the
"cruelest and most disgusting penalty." (crudelissimum
taeterrimumque supplicium, ibid. 2.5. 165.) and Josephus called it
"the most pitiable of deaths." (Jewish War 7:203.)
"I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who
plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and
spitting." - Isaiah 50:6
"Just as there were many who were appalled at him his appearance was
so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond
human likeness" - Isaiah 52:14
"So, Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them
Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified." -
Mark 15:15
Matthew 20:19 - And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.
Matthew 20:19 - And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.
Crucifixion was so horrifying to an enemy of Rome, and it was almost always preceded by scourging.
The Bible Mentions the Word "Scourge"
Matthew
23:34 - Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and
wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your
synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city:
John 2:15
- And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he
drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and
poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
Acts 22:25
- And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion
that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man
that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Matthew
20:19 - And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and
to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he
shall rise again.
Matthew
10:17 - But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to
the councils, and they will scourge you in their
synagogues;
Mark 10:34
- And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and
shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall
rise again.
Luke 18:33
- And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death:
and the third day he shall rise again.