A crucified person could not breathe freely. When exhaustion set in, death came by suffocation, which could take several days. But the legs were needed to raise the body for breathing, and death came much more quickly when the victim’s legs were broken. Since the Jewish law forbade leaving a body exposed overnight, the Jews requested the breaking bones of the legs. { The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they break not his legs: John 19:31-33}