Mercy and Justice in the Old Testament

Option 1: Shylock

I disagree with the assertion that Shylock’s sense of justice, tied to his religious convictions, aligns him with Old Testament heroes. Shylock’s version of justice in The Merchant of Venice is without mercy, which itself is a contradiction to the principle of mercy shown by several Old Testament heroes. Shylock certainly shows a rigid adherence to justice and demands his pound of flesh based on his own strict, literal interpretation of the law—but this legalistic sense of justice is not representative of the Old Testament heroes, who often tempered justice with mercy.

For example, Abraham’s story in Genesis reflects a deep sense of mercy. When God intends to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleads for the cities and asks God to spare them for the sake of a few righteous individuals (Genesis 18:23-24). It is a clear instance of an Old Testament hero tempering asking God to temper justice with mercy. If Shylock had been in Abraham’s position, he likely would have been begging God to destroy.

Likewise, Joseph in Genesis displays shows mercy to his brothers, who sold him into slavery. When they come to him in Egypt, he has the power to take revenge. But instead, Joseph forgives them, saying, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Joseph is an Old Testament hero who embodies mercy when he could have exacted revenge and no one would have blamed him (Boda, 2009).

Finally, there is the story of the prophet Jonah who was reluctant to preach to the people of Nineveh and who then expressed frustration when God shows them mercy. God’s mercy towards the Ninevites shows that divine justice, even in the Old Testament, is tempered by mercy. God spares the repentant city, much to Jonah’s dismay.