How does Deuteronomy 24:1 address the issue of divorce among Israelites? The Law in Focus: Deuteronomy 24:1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.” Immediate Historical Setting • Spoken by Moses on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan • Part of covenant stipulations dealing with domestic life (Deuteronomy 12–26) • Addressed to protect social order and prevent hasty, arbitrary acts that would harm women Key Terms Explained • “Some indecency” (Hebrew ervat davar): – Literally “nakedness of a thing” – Indicates a serious moral or sexual shame, short of proven adultery (which carried the death penalty, Deuteronomy 22:22) • “Certificate of divorce”: a formal written document—public, legal, and irrevocable—declaring the marriage dissolved Step-by-Step Procedure Moses Gives 1. Husband discovers “indecency” that breaks marital favor 2. He must prepare a formal written certificate 3. He must place it in the wife’s hand—publicly acknowledging her freedom 4. He must send her out of the home—releasing her from marital obligation Purpose Behind the Regulation • Provides legal proof of freedom so the woman may remarry without accusation of adultery (vv. 2-3) • Prevents impulsive divorce by requiring deliberate, documented action • Guards against trafficking or abuse of the wife once dismissed • Upholds communal purity by distinguishing lesser marital failures from capital offenses Limits Placed on Israelite Husbands • Divorce restricted to substantiated “indecency,” not mere annoyance • No secret dismissal—community oversight implied by the written act • Later remarriage to the same woman after she marries another man forbidden (vv. 2-4), curbing exploitation Later Biblical Commentary • Jesus cites this text, explaining it was given “because of your hardness of heart,” yet God’s original design is lifelong union (Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12) • Malachi denounces faithless divorce, declaring, “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD (Malachi 2:14-16) • Paul echoes the permanence of marriage while recognizing human failure (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) Timeless Principles Derived • Marriage is covenantal and not to be dissolved lightly • Civil safeguards are necessary in a fallen world to curb injustice • God’s concern extends to protecting the vulnerable, especially women • Every regulation points back to God’s holy design: one man, one woman, for life (Genesis 2:24) |
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