1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.
7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
9 Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:
18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and is considered to be a part of the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible. It is a collection of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. Chapter 24 of the book of Deuteronomy contains various laws and instructions given by God to the Israelites. These laws cover various aspects of their lives, including marriage, divorce, and treatment of the poor and vulnerable.
The main themes of this chapter revolve around justice, compassion, and obedience to God's commandments. The laws given in this chapter were meant to guide the Israelites in living a just and righteous life and to remind them of their covenant with God.
The first section of this chapter deals with the laws of marriage and divorce. It begins with the statement that if a man marries a woman and finds some "uncleanness" in her, he can give her a certificate of divorce and send her away. This phrase has been interpreted in various ways, but it is generally understood to refer to some form of sexual misconduct or infidelity. The certificate of divorce was a legal document that provided proof of the dissolution of the marriage and allowed the woman to remarry without being accused of adultery.
However, the chapter goes on to state that if the divorced woman remarries and her second husband dies or divorces her, she cannot go back to her first husband. This law was meant to prevent men from using divorce as a tool to control and manipulate women. It also emphasized the seriousness of marriage and the importance of making a commitment to one's spouse.
The next section of this chapter addresses various laws related to human dignity and compassion. It begins with the commandment not to take a person's millstones or upper millstone as collateral for a debt, as this would deprive them of their means of making a living. This law reflects God's concern for the poor and vulnerable in society and emphasizes the importance of treating others with compassion and respect.
The chapter also includes laws on various forms of exploitation, such as kidnapping, slavery, and unfair wages. These laws were meant to protect the rights of the weak and ensure that justice was served in society. They also served as a reminder to the Israelites that they were once slaves in Egypt and should therefore show compassion and empathy towards those in similar situations.
Another important law in this section is the commandment not to oppress or mistreat a hired worker who is poor and needy. This law reflects God's concern for the marginalized and vulnerable members of society. It also emphasizes the importance of fair treatment and just wages for all workers.
The final verse of this chapter serves as a conclusion and a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commandments. It states, "You shall not pervert justice due to the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge." This verse emphasizes the importance of treating all members of society with justice and fairness, regardless of their social status or background.
Chapter 24 of the book of Deuteronomy contains various laws and commandments given by God to the Israelites. These laws cover different aspects of their lives, including marriage, divorce, treatment of the poor and vulnerable, and justice. The main message of this chapter is to remind the Israelites of their covenant with God and to guide them in living a just and righteous life.
The laws of marriage and divorce in this chapter highlight the importance of commitment and faithfulness in marriage. It also emphasizes the seriousness of the marriage covenant and the need for both partners to treat each other with respect and compassion.
The laws related to human dignity and compassion reflect God's concern for the poor and vulnerable in society. They remind the Israelites of their past as slaves in Egypt and call them to show empathy and compassion towards those in similar situations. These laws also serve as a reminder that all individuals are equal in the eyes of God and should be treated with fairness and justice.
The final verse of this chapter serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commandments. It emphasizes the need for justice and fairness in all aspects of life and reminds the Israelites that their actions should reflect their covenant with God.
Overall, chapter 24 of the book of Deuteronomy highlights the importance of justice, compassion, and obedience to God's commandments in the lives of the Israelites. It serves as a guide for living a righteous and just life and reminds the Israelites of their responsibilities as God's chosen people.
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