The laws in this section have the design of fostering purity and fidelity in the relation of the sexes, and also of protecting the female against the malice of sated lust and the violence of brutal lust. read more
Chastity. The Mosaic Law is strict and stern in its requirement of purity in all that pertains to the marriage relation. Its strictness, however, is united with a fine sense of justice, and its shield is, as usual, extended for the protection of the innocent. I. THE DEFAMED WIFE . ( Deuteronomy 22:13-19 .) No act can be conceived more cruel or dastardly than that of a man who groundlessly assails his wife's character, accusing her of ante-nuptial unchastity. As the matter was... read more
Expedients to secure purity. We have here various wise expedients to control the licentiousness of the people, and secure, so far as possible, social purity. I. DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER WAS SEVERELY PUNISHED . A husband could not, with impunity, defame a newly married wife; for should there be proof forthcoming that his charge was false, he was to be publicly chastised, to pay a fine of one hundred shekels of silver to his father-in-law, whoso good name and peace he had... read more
The fine was to be paid to the father, because the slander was against him principally as the head of the wife’s family. If the damsel were an orphan the fine reverted to herself. The fact that the penalties attached to bearing false witness against a wife are fixed and comparatively light indicates the low estimation and position of the woman at that time. read more
Deuteronomy 22:19. Give them unto the father of the damsel Because this was a reproach to his family, and to himself, as such misconduct of his daughter would have been ascribed to his neglect of properly instructing or watching over her. He may not put her away all his days Thus he was deprived of the common benefit which every Israelite had who did not like his wife, which was to sue out a divorce. read more
Laws of love and purity (22:1-30)A collection of miscellaneous laws reminds the people of some everyday responsibilities. They had to go out of their way to help others (22:1-4); they were not to dress in a way that would encourage immorality (5); they were to be thoughtful for the safety of others, birds and animals as well as people (6-8); and they were not to restrict the productivity of their crops through wrong practices, or shorten the lives of their working animals through cruelty... read more
against her. These words are not in Hebrew text, but are contained in some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate. read more
amerce him = fine him. Old English. read more
door = entrance. put evil away. See note on Deuteronomy 13:5 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:13-21
Slander, unchastity, and fraud. No blame can lie against the Scriptures because they legislate on such detestable matters. The blame must lie at the door of depraved humanity, which perpetrates such deeds and makes Divine legislation necessary. The obscenity appertains to the vices, only praise belongs to the remedy. I. A WOMAN 'S CHASTITY IS HER MAIN DOWRY FOR LIFE . If she possess not this virtue, she is worse than worthless; she is a plague and a pest—a moral... read more