"If a man commits a sin worthy of death, and is put to death, and you hang him on a tree; you must not leave his body overnight
on the tree, but rather you must certainly bury him on that day, for a curse to YHVH is the one who is hanged,
and you shall not defile your land that YHVH your Elohim gives you for an inheritance."
(Deut 21:22-23)
The Torah provides rules and guidelines for living. It tells us that every person must be treated with respect, because
he or she is made in the image of YHVH.
All those who were killed by stoning were hanged.
Why is it "a curse to YHVH"? Because man is made in His image.
The punishment of stoning, although administered in a merciful way, was reserved for those who acted to interrupt Israel's
relationship with YHVH. This was the most severe of the four types of capital punishment. The crimes, which merited stoning,
were such misdeeds as cursing YHVH and worshipping other gods. Someone who knew Torah and the importance of its commandments,
understood their unique relationship with YHVH, and after being warned, deliberately worshipped an idol in front of witnesses,
was punished by stoning, and hanging of his dead body on a tree, to be an example.
Nonetheless, the Torah tells us that he too was made in the image of YHVH, and even his dead body must be treated with
respect.
