Read Deuteronomy 22:13-29 at Bible Gateway.
Previously: deuteronomy 22:8-12, tzitzit and adultery
(Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions and chiastic structures. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic.)
Deu 22:13-29 is the third section explaining Do not commit adultery, the seventh commandment. The seventh commandment is explained in Deu 21:10-23:14, and this is my summary of it. The Hebrew paragraph divisions are:
Deu 22:13-19 {s} Justice for the pure bride
Deu 22:20-21 {s} Justice for the impure bride
Deu 22:22 {s} Justice for the adulterous wife
Deu 22:23-24 {s} Justice for the betrothed virgin in the city
Deu 22:25-27 {s} Justice for the betrothed virgin in the country
Deu 22:28-29 {s} Justice for the unbetrothed virgin
This section forms an unusual chiastic structure:
1a) Deu 22:13-19 s, Justice for the virgin bride when her husband attempts to rid himself of her:
– 1a.1) Deu 22:13-17, If a man bears false witness to rid himself of his virgin bride;
– 1a.2) Deu 22:18-19a, The elders shall punish him + he shall give one hundred shekels of silver to her father;
– 1a.3) Deu 22:19b s, He has humbled her (given her a bad name) + he shall not divorce her all his days.
1b) Deu 22:20-21 s, The betrothed woman who is not forced (dishonored marital intimacy) shall die + put away evil among you;
1c) Deu 22:22 s, Both the man and the married woman who is not forced shall die + put away evil from Israel;
2c) Deu 22:23-24 s, Both the man and the betrothed woman who is not forced shall die + put away evil among you;
2b) Deu 22:25-27 s, A man who forces a bethrothed woman (dishonored marital intimacy) shall die + crime as murder;
2a) Deu 22:28-29 s, Justice for the virgin when her seducer does not take responsibility for her:
– 2a.1) Deu 22:28, If a man seduces an unbetrothed virgin and attempts to hide it;
– 2a.2) Deu 22:29a, He shall give to the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver;
– 2a.3) Deu 22:29b s, He has humbled her + he shall not divorce her all his days.
There is no central axis, just the repeating elements in reverse order (there might be a central axis in the original Hebrew, that is not apparent in English translation).
We learn that dishonoring the sanctity of marital intimacy is a capital crime, just as murder or kidnapping is. We take it so lightly in our modern era, and yet to God whose judgments are just, who is smarter than we are, it is a grievous crime deserving death. In all the other capital crimes of Torah, there is an innocent victim who is irreparably hurt by the unrestrained actions of another. I believe the pattern established in Torah holds, and there is an innocent victim in this crime too, who is irreparably hurt by the unrestrained actions of another. That is the betrothed or the spouse who is the victim of the adultery. The trust of their heart is forever shattered. The punishment is so severe because the crime of shattering the heart and trust of another is so severe. The severe punishment served to limit the actual instances of adultery.
We learn that it is also wrong for a man to use a woman for intimacy and then try to rid himself of her, whether she is his wife and he decides he detests her; or whether she is a hook up and he tries to keep their liason quiet because he wants the privileges of a wife without the responsibility of a wife.
We learn that rape is a violent crime stemming from hatred, not lust, as it is in the same vein as murder.
Now most of us were not raised knowing Torah and are only just learning what defines righteousness and wickedness for the first time. Many people who did not know how sacred marital intimacy is, have violated these principles. No one has kept all of Torah in purity, if man were able to, then keeping Torah could save us, and it cannot! Salvation was never the purpose of Torah, but rather it is instruction for us in God’s ways, so that the blessing of walking in God’s ways would come upon us! We add nothing to God by our obedience – our obedience only adds benefit and blessing to us!
Here is the heart of God toward those who have broken His Law:
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Joh 8:3-11
Continued: deuteronomy 22:30-23:8, the integrity of the assembly
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