Word In Life Study Bible
CITIES—FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Deut.22:13-21
Ever since the time of Cain (Gen. 4:17), one of the main purposes of human communities and of the rule of law has been to keep the family from disintegrating. This principle lies behind the Mosaic laws concerning questions of marital purity (Deut. 22:13–21).
According to the marriage customs of the day, a wedding celebration lasted eight days, after which the husband and wife retreated to their home to consummate the marriage. If the husband then alleged that his wife was not a virgin—whether as a legitimate complaint or as an excuse to annul the marriage—he could not just divorce her, abandon her, or take revenge on his in-laws. He had to take his case before the elders of the city, who placed the woman’s parents—not the woman—on trial (22:15). The elders would examine evidence as to the woman’s sexual activity prior to marriage, and render a ruling (22:17–21).
Thus God held the city, its leaders, and its legal system accountable to uphold the rights of women. This guarantee of due process for them set ancient Israel apart from other Middle Eastern cultures. Marriage was considered to be not just a private covenant between two consenting adults, but a legal commitment publicly honored by the city. This was appropriate, because cities had a vested interest in healthy marriages and families. City and family went together—and still do today.
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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