Deuteronomy 22:15

Then shall the father and the mother of the damsel take,.... Power from the court, according to the Targum of Jonathan; having leave and licence granted them to do what follows, these were to, and

If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, If any man take a wife ... The regulations that follow might be imperatively needful in the then situation of the Israelites; and yet it is

i.e. The linen cloth or sheet, as is expressed, , which in the first congress was infected with blood, as is natural and usual. But because this is not now constant, the enemies of Scripture take occasion to quarrel with this law, as unreasonable and unjust, and such as might oppress the innocent, and hence take occasion to reject the Holy Scriptures. It were much more reasonable for these men either to expound this place metaphorically, of producing those proofs and testimonies of her virginity which should be as satisfactory as if that cloth were produced, as some of the Jews understand it; or modestly to acknowledge their own ignorance in this, as they are forced to do in many other things, and not impudently to conclude it is insoluble, because they cannot resolve it. But there is no need of such general answers, many things may be particularly said for the vindication of this law. 1. That it was necessary for that people, because of their hard-heartedness towards their wives, and their levity and desire of change of wives. 2. That either this trial, or at least the proof of her virginity, was to be taken presently after the day of marriage, and that proof was to be admitted afterwards upon occasion. 3. That this law was seldom or never put in execution, as the Jews note, and seems to be made for terror and caution to husbands and wives, as really other laws have been in like cases. 4. That that God who gave this law did by his providence govern all affairs, and rule the tongues and hearts of men, and therefore would doubtless take care so to order matters that the innocent should not suffer by this means, which he could prevent many ways. 5. That there is a great difference in times and climates. Who knows not that there are many things now by our moderns thought uncertain or false, by which by the ancient physicians were thought and affirmed to be true, and certain in their times and countries, and that many signs of diseases and other things do generally hold true in those more southerly and warmer parts of the world, which are many times deceitful in our northern and colder climates? 6. That this very way of trial of virginity hath been used not only by the Jews, but also by the Arabians and Egyptians, as is affirmed by divers learned writers, among whom yet it was more doubtful and hazardous than among the Jews, who might promise to themselves that God would guide the execution of his own law to a just and good issue. 7.

Deuteronomy 22:15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth [the tokens of] the damsel’ s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:Ver. 15. Then shall the father of the damsel.] Whose house hereby was dishonested, and by whom his daughter’ s honour was to be defended, especially since children’ s miscarriages reflect upon the parents, and the daughters sin is the father’ s shame.

Deuteronomy 22:13-30. LAWS OF .(13-21) Virginity.—The law in these verses will be best appreciated by considering its effects. The maidens in Israel would be compelled to guard their maidenliness and innocence, as they valued their lives. Jealousy and caprice on the part of the husbands, in view of this law, would be avoided as likely to incur discredit and serious penalties. A fine of 100 shekels (as in Deuteronomy 22:19), or 50 (as in Deuteronomy 22:29), was no light matter for a nation who found a quarter shekel sufficient for a present to a great man (1 Samuel 9:8), and half a shekel too much for a poll-tax on the men of military age (1 Chronicles 21:3, and Exodus 30:15; Nehemiah 10:32). The law of the jealousy offering in Numbers 5:12-31, must also be taken into consideration, as guarding the fidelity of the wife. It would be most unadvisable for either man or woman so to act as to bring themselves under the penalties here described. The tendency of these laws would be to make all men watchful and careful for the honour of their families. (21) She hath wrought folly in Israel.—This expression should be noticed. It appears for the first time in Genesis 34:7, very shortly after the bestowal of the name Israel (Genesis 32). It would almost appear that the name entailed a higher standard of behaviour upon Jacob’s family, after the hand of the Holy One had been laid upon their father. A separate code of rules were binding upon the chosen people from the very beginning of their history. Hardly any point is made of more importance, from the birth of Isaac downwards, than the purity of the chosen seed. (22) Adultery.—See Leviticus 20:10. “Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned.” It was not disputed by our Saviour (John 8:5).

Verse 15. Tokens of the damsel's virginity] This was a perfectly possible case in all places where girls were married at ten, twelve, and fourteen years of age, which is frequent in the East. I have known several instances of persons having had two or three children at separate births before they were fourteen years of age. Such tokens, therefore, as the text speaks of, must be infallibly exhibited by females so very young on the consummation of their marriage.

15. father of the damsel, and her mother] Together as in Deuteronomy 21:18 ff. Damsel, Heb. na‘ar, the masc. form used in the Pent, for the fem. 21 times, 13 of which are here (but fem. form in Deuteronomy 22:19) and the rest in Genesis 24, 34; cp. Rth 2:6; Rth 4:12. elders of the city in the gate] Deuteronomy 21:19.

13-29. If any man take a wife, etc. — This section relates to purity in reference to marriage. The wellbeing of the family and of the state depends upon strict observance of the laws of purity in the relation of husband and wife.