by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
No negotiated deal for hostage release has been agreed upon. We need to continue to pray for the release of all the remaining hostages and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).
According to the ESV Global Study Bible this next literary section encompassing Deuteronomy 21:15 – 23:14 has Moses expounding on cases about adultery and sexual faithfulness. This section thus corresponds to the 7th Commandment prohibiting adultery.
But it must be said that many parts of the narrative in Deuteronomy 21:15 – 22:12 do not address the expected issue of sexual faithfulness of married people or adultery. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 discusses inheritance rights for the firstborn, in the absolute sense, even if he is the son of the unloved wife. This applies to situations where a man has 2 wives and grants legal protection for the less-favored wife. Verses 18-21 mandates the punishment of death to a rebellious son (who has evidently broken the 5th Commandment to honor one’s parents). Verses 22-23 which close the chapter talks about not letting a punished criminal hung on a tree remain on the tree overnight so that the land will not be defiled. Note that the Apostle Paul referred to these Old Testament (OT) verses (especially verse 23) that a man hung on a tree is cursed, in Galatians 3:13 in the New Testament (NT) in his exposition of Christ’s redeeming work and for those living by faith. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 in the Hebrew is given below (read right to left, top down):
וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה בְאִ֗ישׁ חֵ֛טְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֖וֶת וְהוּמָ֑ת וְתָלִ֥יתָ אֹתֹ֖ו עַל־עֵֽץ׃
לֹא־תָלִ֨ין נִבְלָתֹ֜ו עַל־הָעֵ֗ץ כִּֽי־קָבֹ֤ור תִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֔וּא כִּֽי־קִלְלַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים תָּל֑וּי וְלֹ֤א תְטַמֵּא֙ אֶת־אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה׃
The Berean Standard Bible translation follows:
22If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,
23you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
The literal translation would be “your land” where אֲדָמָה “adamah” is used for land with the possessive suffix “your.” In Deuteronomy 21:15-23 the land promised is directly or indirectly referred to. Verse 19 uses these now familiar Hebrew words: עִיר “iyr” for city; שַׁעַר “shaar” for gate; and מָקוֹם “maqom” meaning place. Verse 21 uses עִיר “iyr” for city again. Verse 23 cited above uses אֲדָמָה “adamah” instead of אֶרֶץ “erets” for land.
Chapter 22 discusses various laws which include those concerning sexual immorality. Deuteronomy 22:2 uses the Hebrew word בּיִת “bayith” for house in the discussion of caring for the ox, sheep, donkey, garment or any lost thing belonging to one’s brother (verses 1-4). Having a house instead of a tent presumes settled living in the land promised. This word is also used (twice) in verse 8 in the construction of new houses that specified roof parapets to prevent accidents or even deaths.
Deuteronomy 22:5 prohibits cross-dressing. Furthermore, verses 9-10 prohibit the mixing of different kinds of seed, yoked beasts of burden and material for clothing. Their observance may have helped remind the Israelites of these God-ordained boundaries and also not to worship other gods leading to either apostasy or syncretism. Both can be deemed as religious adultery.
Deuteronomy 22:13-21 discusses details about violations of the marriage contract. In the ancient Near East (ANE) according to The Jewish Study Bible – Tanakh Translation, “marriage was a contractual arrangement between the woman’s father and the husband.” A bride-price had to be paid for the woman to be treated as betrothed/engaged to the man legally. Once paid, she is technically married even if she still stays in her father’s house. After the formal marriage (feast), the sexual union would be consummated and then she would move to her husband’s house. It is in this ANE context that a man’s false accusation of a breach of the marital contract (i.e., the woman is no longer a virgin [as someone has committed adultery with her]) would bring a sanction of a steep fine of 100 shekels of silver and include a whipping. Note that the standard wage in those times would only amount to 10 shekels/year and the bride-price would be around 50 shekels. It is tantamount to a refund of the bride-price plus a penalty. However, if the accusation is true, the woman is to be stoned to death for fornication/whoring/adultery – a capital offense.
Verses 22-29 deals with cases of adultery and rape. Verse 22 is straightforward. Verses 23-24 deals with what is considered as consensual adultery relating to a legally betrothed woman done in the confines of a city or settlement where a cry for help is possible. Verses 25-27 on the other hand treats the case as rape for a legally engaged woman who is violated outside a settlement, in open country where no one can hear her cries for help and come to her rescue. Verses 28-29 refers to cases of women who are not legally betrothed or engaged and are violated. The man who raped her must pay the 50 shekels of silver (bride-price) and must take her in as his wife and will not be allowed to divorce her anytime.
In all these discussions of Deuteronomy 22:13-30, the land promised is in view. Assuming a settled life, verse 15 uses the Hebrew words: עִיר “iyr” for city and שַׁעַר “shaar” for gate. Verses 17-18 use עִיר “iyr” for city again. Verse 21 uses עִיר “iyr” for city (twice) and בּיִת “bayith” for house. Verse 23 uses עִיר “iyr” for city. Verse 24 uses עִיר “iyr” for city (twice) and שַׁעַר “shaar” for gate. In the ANE, the gate of a city is where legal matters were brought up and adjudicated by the judges and/or elders.
Deuteronomy 23:1-8 lays down certain rules for excluding individuals (with physical damage to genitalia, or are offspring of illegal/incestuous marriages) and/or people groups (Ammonites, Moabites or Edomites) from joining the assembly (also called congregation) of the LORD. The Jewish Study Bible – Tanakh Translation likens this body to a national governing entity, similar to a popular legislature. The restrictions may seem like precursors of (future) Temple grounds entry rules.
Deuteronomy 23:9-14 discuss matters relating to purity and personal hygiene (latrine) practices in military encampments. These affect ritual purity even in a holy war situation and may defile the land promised.
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.