פירוש על דברים 21:18

סורר (from the root סור to deviate) means, one who deviates from the proper path of life.

A STUBBORN AND REBELLIOUS SON. In the opinion of our Rabbis⁸⁸Sanhedrin 68b. he is not a minor, for a minor is not subject to any punishments ordained by the Torah or to [the observance of] any commandments. Rather, this verse applies to a boy who has grown two hairs [signifying puberty, and, therefore making the child subject to all the laws prescribed by the Torah]. Now, he is liable to two punishments: the first, because he dishonors his father and his mother⁸⁹Further, 27:16. and rebels against them, and the second, because he is a glutton, and a drunkard,⁹⁰Verse 20. transgressing that which we have been commanded, Ye shall be holy,⁹¹Leviticus 19:2. and it is further stated, and Him shall ye serve, and unto Him shall ye cleave⁹²Above, 13:5. — as I have explained,⁹³Ibid., 6:12. we are commanded to know G-d in all our ways, and a glutton, and a drunkard⁹⁰Verse 20. does not know the way of G-d. In general, then, as of now he [this stubborn and rebellious son] has not committed a sin punishable by death, but is judged because of [what he is destined to become in] the end, just as our Rabbis have mentioned.⁹⁴Sanhedrin 72a. This is the sense of the expression, and all Israel shall hear, and fear,⁹⁵Verse 21. for he was not executed due to the greatness of his sin, but in order to discipline the public, and so that he not become a menace to others. It is the manner of Scripture so to warn that when the death-penalty is imposed as a deterrent, the execution should serve as a benefit to others. Thus it mentioned the same in the case of the rebellious elder [who defies the decision of the Great Sanhedrin — And all the people shall hear, and fear]⁹⁶Above, 17:13. because, in his decision [contradicting that of the court] there is no sin deserving of death, but [the death sentence being imposed only to] deter dissension from the Torah, as I have explained there.⁹⁷Ibid., Verse 11. Similar is the case of plotting witnesses⁹⁸Ibid., 19:20: And those that remain shall hear, and fear. who are executed [for scheming to condemn someone to death] although they have not caused his execution.⁹⁹See Ramban ibid., Verse 19. Scripture also mentions it in the case of the beguiler¹⁰⁰Ibid., 13:12: And all Israel shall hear, and fear. because he is executed merely for his evil speech even though the beguiled has not worshipped the idols, nor hearkened to him; his [the beguiler’s] death is rather to chasten the survivors. This, too, is a newly-declared commandment — or it may be explanatory of the commandments, Honor thy father and thy mother,¹⁰¹Exodus 20:12. and Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.¹⁰²Leviticus 19:3.

סורר ומורה, his obstinacy removed all hope that he would change his lifestyle.