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Related: hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/q/3962/208 –  Gone Quiet Jun 19 '13 at 3:19
Somewhere in the Scripture God lifts the curse. Where is it? –  user3300 Jan 14 at 2:54
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3 Answers

Rashi, the major medieval compiler of rabbinic interpretation, wrote:

of those who hate Me: As the Targum [Onkelos paraphrases: when the sons continue to sin following their fathers, i.e.], when they cling to their fathers’ deeds. — [from Sanh. 27b]

I can't read Aramaic so can't verify how Targum Onkelos renders this, but if he's reporting that incorrectly I would have expected someone to point it out in the last 900 years.

According to this, it's not that God capriciously punishes children and grandchildren for their ancestors' sins but, rather, that children are likely to follow in the ways of their parents. So the fathers in the verse (who are also punished according to the law) impart their sin on their children and grandchildren by teaching them bad behavior.

As for how many generations, that the torah says "third or fourth" instead of just giving a number suggests that there is some case-by-case variation.

The passage Rashi cites in the Babylonian talmud, Sanhedrin 27b, is (from the Soncino translation):

Are not children then to be put to death for the sins committed by their parents? Is it not written, Visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children? — There the reference is to children who follow their parents’ footsteps (literally ‘who hold in their hands the deeds of their parents’). As it has been taught: And also in the iniquities of their parents shall they pine away with them (Lev 26:39) [i.e.,] if they hold fast to the evil doings of their fathers. Thou sayest thus: Yet perhaps it is not so, but true even if they do not hold fast to their [evil] doings? When Scripture states, Every man shall be put to death for his own sin (Deut 24:16) [it must refer to those who do not hold fast to their fathers’ ways. Then how shall we interpret, And also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them?] (Lev 26:39) — As referring to those who continue in the ways of their fathers. But do they [really] not [suffer for the sins committed by others]? Is it not written, And they shall stumble one upon another (Lev 26:37), meaning, One [will stumble] through the sin of the other, which teaches that all are held responsible for one another? — There the reference is to such as had the power to restrain [their fellowmen from evil] but did not.

The fathers and children identified in the text are individuals, not the nation (though, obviously, a nation is made of individuals and individuals often follow each others' leads, leading to group action and group consequences).


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So what we are really talking about is this:




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Thanks, Jon & Mike. The "national context" is the key here. –  Robert Koops Jul 3 '12 at 3:23
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v. 24



Numbers 26:11

Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.

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Related: hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/q/1646/208 –  Gone Quiet Feb 18 '13 at 14:11
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