Deuteronomy 25: Levirate Marriage / Various Commands
Laws Concerning Marriage and Divorce: Deuteronomy 24.1-4
A refresher on the sex-marriage economy: The sex-marriage economy is the system wherein women are commodities that exchange hands through rape, marriage, and divorce. The "economy" is not limited to the bible or ancient history. It is a useful tool to analyze many societies, as I learned from an English professor who used it to analyze literature of the Restoration and beyond. In these examples cash and land are being thrown all over the place, and the system gets really messy.
This regulation presents the following scenario: a man marries a woman but finds he does not please her, so he hands her a certificate of divorce and sends her out of his house. The woman marries a second man who also dislikes her, divorces her, and kicks her out. Or, perhaps, the second man simply dies. In any case, the first man "is not permitted to take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that would be abhorrent to the Lord."
Clearly we can see the woman as a piece of property. Her presence in the house is dependent on her husband's approval, and she may be discarded at will. Not only that, but the woman comes with a seal of sorts.
[Thanks, Wikipedia!]
Not that kind of seal - a "do not open" sort of seal. And once the seal is opened the product irrevocably changes. The first man has consecrated the marriage, thereby "defiling" the woman, and cannot take her back because he has already opened the seal and found the product was not to his liking.
Miscellaneous Laws: Deuteronomy 24.5-25.4
Some of these have humanitarian concerns, but the thread that best unites these is that each has nothing to do with the others.
A newly-married man is exempt from serving in the army one year, so that he may be happy with his wife.
You may not take a mill or upper mill-stone in a pledge, "for that would be taking a life in pledge." [This regulation depends on the precept that a mill is essential for milling grain, which is essential for making bread, which is essential for sustaining life. Without a mill, a person cannot survive, so to require a mill in a pledge is to sentence a person to death.]
Those caught kidnapping, enslaving, or selling an Israel shall die.
Guard against skin diseases by obeying the priests and the Lord's commands. "Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on your journey out of Egypt." This last command serves to associate disease with improper practice. In disobeying the Lord, as Miriam did, an Israelite might bring the wrath of the Lord upon him/her.
"When you make your neighbor a loan of any kind, you shall not go into the house to take the pledge. You shall wait outside, while the person to whom you are making the loan brings the pledge out to you. If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the garment given you as the pledge. You shall give the pledge back by sunset, so that your neighbor may sleep in the cloak and bless you; and it will be to your credit before the Lord your God."
(Deut. 24.10-13)
Likewise, you shall not withhold the wages of needy laborers, whether Israelite or alien. Those that depend on your daily wage might cry out against you, which would cause you to incur guilt. Interestingly, you will only incur guilt for this offense if the person you owe cries out against you to the Lord. The Lord is just in this case, but only when his justice is called upon.
In executions for crimes, children must not be substituted for parents or parents for children. The one who commits the crime must suffer the consequences.
Do not deny justice to the resident alien or orphan, and do not take a widow's garment in pledge. The memory of the Lord bringing the Israelites out of Egypt is invoked for this command, bringing to mind that the Israelites too were disadvantaged not too long ago.
Aliens, orphans, and widows have the right to the leftovers of harvest: the forgotten sheafs of grain, the remaining olives on the tree, the last grapes of the vineyard. Again Israel's plight in Egypt is invoked.
Flogging as punishment for an offense shall not exceed forty lashes.
Oxen should be treated humanely; you shall not muzzle them when they are working.
Levarite Marriage: Deuteronomy 25.5-10
If two brothers live together and one dies, leaving a wife but no son, the living brother should marry the widow, and their firstborn child shall be named after the deceased brother. This is a method of perpetuating land holdings in Israel, passing down a name and wealth through generations. If a man does not wish to marry his brother's widow, it is a great disrespect to his dead brother. The woman should complain to the town elders, who will consult with the living brother. If he still refuses, the widow shall pull the sandal off his foot and spit in his face, declaring that he has disrespected his brother's house. Thenceforth his family shall be known as "the house of him whose sandal was pulled off," which is really a great insult, despite how trivial it might sound to modern readers.
Various Commands: Deuteronomy 25.11-19
What is the difference between "Miscellaneous Laws" and "Various Commands"? Besides phrasing, I have no idea. In any case, here are what the HarperCollins Study Bible refers to as "Various Commands."
If two men get in a fight and the wife attempts to rescue her husband by grabbing his opponents genitals, you shall cut off her hand. [The phallus is a source of power, and to touch another man's source of power - and possibly endanger its potency - is a grave error indeed.]
Keep fair and honest weights and measures.
Kill the Amalekites in vengeance for their attach on you as you journeyed from Egypt. He did not fear God, and deserves what is coming for him.
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