[loboinok]

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” . . . But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest

I was taught the proper translation was, let him who is without "this" sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her...which explains why they went away,one by one, "beginning with the eldest".

[Conservative Coulter Fan]

No, I think we can deduce that, beginning with the eldest, that they quickly realized what a shameful situation they were in having used the woman taken in adultery, with the collusion of her husband, so that they could entrap Jesus between Mosaic Law and Roman law. This is a far cry from the torah's call for justice and righteousness.