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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Deuteronomy 21:10 - 21:14
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The Law of Captive Women
v. 10. When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, those outside of Canaan, Deu_20:13-18, and the Lord, thy God, hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
v. 11. and seest among the captives a beautiful, well-formed woman, and hast a desire unto her, said of the love which desires union in lawful marriage, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife,
v. 12. then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails, that is, cut them, keep them trimmed, 2Sa_19:24;
v. 13. and she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, all these acts being in the nature of purifying rites, Lev_14:8; Num_8:7, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month, that is, her separation from them; and after that thou shalt go in unto her, in the relation peculiar to marriage, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. During this month the woman would have time even inwardly to detach herself from her previous relations and to adjust herself to the idea of joining the people of God, if possible, to be filled with genuine affection for the God of Israel and also for the man, whose action in declaring his readiness to marry her had saved her from the position and lot of a slave.
v. 14. And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, after the marriage had thus taken place, then thou shalt let her go whither she will, as a free woman, with the rights of an Israelitess; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, such a procedure was not to be thought of, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, not attempt a violent treatment of her by selling her as a slave, because thou hast humbled her, in making use of the right of a husband. This was a humane, merciful provision, intended to protect the dignity of the woman and the sanctity of marriage.