The right of divorce on man's part (not woman's) is taken for granted here and elsewhere in the OT (see Deuteronomy 22:19; Deuteronomy 22:29; Leviticus 21:7; Leviticus 21:14; Leviticus 22:13 f., Numbers 30:9; cf. Matthew 19:9). Later Judaism (Kethuboth, vii. 10) extended to woman the right of divorce under certain specified conditions.

Deuteronomy 24:1. some unseemly thing: the Heb. as in Deuteronomy 23:14 (cf. mg.), unclean thing, LXX an ugly (lit. unshapely) thing. Unchastity is hardly meant, that is dealt with in Deuteronomy 22:13, but probably physical incapacity of some kind.

Deuteronomy 24:5. Cf. Deuteronomy 20:7.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising