What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 24:3? the second man hates her Deuteronomy 24:3 opens with the sobering phrase, “and the second man hates her.” The verse assumes a remarriage has already taken place (v. 2). Now this second husband rejects her as well. • “Hate” here speaks of active rejection, echoing the earlier phrase in v. 1 where the first husband found “some indecency” in her. • Scripture consistently treats such hard-heartedness toward one’s spouse as sin (Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:8). • By recording the possibility of a second rejection, Moses highlights how divorce can spiral, wounding everyone involved. writes her a certificate of divorce “[He] writes her a certificate of divorce.” The written document served several purposes: • It confirmed the marriage was legally dissolved, protecting the woman from charges of adultery (Deuteronomy 24:1; Matthew 19:7). • It showed divorce was not to be impulsive. A formal writing implied deliberation and accountability (Jeremiah 3:8). • It underscored the seriousness of ending what God designed to be lifelong (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6). hands it to her The husband “hands it to her,” physically transferring the certificate. • Until she received that paper, she was still his wife; the act finalized the break (Deuteronomy 24:1). • In practical terms, the document allowed her to prove her single status if she ever remarried or defended herself in court (compare John 4:18 where marital history is publicly known). • The step protected her dignity by giving her clear legal standing, even amid a tragic event. sends her away from his house Next, he “sends her away from his house.” • Marriage joined two lives in one household; divorce dissolves that unity (Genesis 2:24 vs. Deuteronomy 24:2). • The law prevents a husband from putting away his wife yet still controlling her. Once she is sent away, his authority ends (Deuteronomy 21:14). • Repetition of this clause in v. 3 underlines that the divorce is complete and irreversible from his side. or if he dies Finally, Moses adds, “or if he dies.” • Whether divorced or widowed, the woman is once again without a husband (Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:39). • Including death clarifies that the coming restriction (v. 4, barring remarriage to the first husband) applies in both scenarios. • God is guarding marriage from becoming a casual, transactional arrangement—divorce, remarriage, and return—by closing the door to re-entering the first union (Deuteronomy 24:4). summary Deuteronomy 24:3 traces the formal, legal steps by which a second husband might end—or abruptly be removed from—his marriage to the woman already divorced once. Each clause reinforces that: • Divorce is a grievous reality stemming from human hard-heartedness, never God’s design. • Written documentation and formal dismissal protected the woman, limiting a man’s power to abandon her informally. • By detailing both divorce and death scenarios, the law establishes the permanence of each marital decision, warning all Israel that marriage vows carry lifelong weight. |
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