2,146. The Limits of Zealotry

Hilchos Issurei Biah 12:6

If the zealot didn’t strike down the offender, and he also didn’t receive stripes for acting rebelliously from the court, his punishment is communicated to us by tradition: kareis (spiritual excision). Malachi 2:11-12 tells us that the king of Judah “defiled God’s beloved holiness by being intimate with the daughter of idolatry. May God cut off insight and wisdom from one who does this!” The Talmud (Yevamos 22b-23a) explains that if the offender is a Yisroel (i.e., an Israelite), he won’t have children among the scholars who ask questions or descendants among those who answer them. If he’s a kohein, he won’t have descendants who present offerings to God.

Hilchos Issurei Biah 12:7

While such relations are not subject to execution by the court, they shouldn’t be taken lightly because it has a unique consequence not found in any other prohibited relationship. A child born from any other prohibited relationship is the father’s in all ways and a full-fledged member of the Jewish people, even if he’s a mamzer (meaning the product of incest or adultery). A child born from a non-Jewish woman, however, is not halachically his child as per Deuteronomy 7:4, “He will turn your son away from following Me.” Having a non-Jewish mother keeps one's offspring from members of the Jewish people.