Deuteronomy 22:13-30

Six Laws on Cases of Unchastity

Of these the first five prescribe the procedure in criminal cases: 1st. Of a Husband's Charges against His Bride (Deuteronomy 22:13-21); 2nd. Of Adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22); 3rd. Of Dishonouring a Betrothed Virgin with her consent (Deuteronomy 22:23 f.); 4th. Of the Same without her consent (Deuteronomy 22:25-27); 5th. Of Dishonouring an Unbetrothed Virgin (Deuteronomy 22:28 f.); while the 6th forbids Marriage with a Father's Wife (30 [Deuteronomy 23:1]). Of the first five each opens similarly to each of the group Deuteronomy 21:15-23, i.e. with an if, and differently from those of the group Deuteronomy 22:1-12, and they share with the former group and with Deuteronomy 19:1-13, and other laws, these marks: the eldersare the public authority, Deuteronomy 22:15 ff., cp. Deuteronomy 19:12; Deuteronomy 21:3; Deuteronomy 21:19 f.; neighbour(not brother, characteristic of the Sg. passages) is used, Deuteronomy 22:24; Deuteronomy 22:26, cp. Deuteronomy 19:4 f., Deuteronomy 19:11; Deuteronomy 19:14; field(sadeh) in its widersense, Deuteronomy 22:25; Deuteronomy 22:27, cp. Deuteronomy 21:1; and sin worthy of death(ḥeṭ"-maweth), Deuteronomy 22:26, cp. Deuteronomy 19:6; Deuteronomy 21:22. The direct address to Israel is seldom used, and the form varies. In the closing formulas, Deuteronomy 22:21; Deuteronomy 22:24, it is Sg. and Sg. also in the body of the 4th law, Deuteronomy 22:24 (unless this be editorial), but Sam. LXX have Pl. In the body of the 3rd law, Deuteronomy 22:24, it is Pl.

In considering these plain-spoken laws it is just to remember that with all their imperfections they represent an advance in social ethics; an upward stage in the struggle against debasing practices and the animal passions of men. That we do not need some of them to-day is due to the fact that their enforcement under religious sanction was needed at the time of their origin. It is only ignorance or ingratitude which can cavil at their spirit or their form.