Question 1

What is the meaning of the bill of divorcement in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The bill of divorcement was a written notice a husband had to give his wife if he sent her away. It made divorce a formal act, not just a sudden outburst or a quiet abandonment. The writing forced him to think, and it protected the woman by proving she was free to marry again. This did not praise divorce, but limited it in a hard-hearted society and kept the man from tossing his wife aside on a whim and then taking her back again when it suited him.

Question 2

Why is the first husband forbidden to marry his divorced wife again?

Accepted Answer

Once the woman had been divorced, married another man, and then been freed again or widowed, her first husband was not allowed to take her back. The passage calls this an abomination, because it would treat marriage lightly, as if spouses could be traded and reclaimed at will. The break was meant to be final. This law warned men not to throw away their wives expecting they could always undo it later, and it guarded the holiness and seriousness of the marriage bond.

Question 3

What does this passage teach about God’s view of marriage?

Accepted Answer

These laws show that marriage is meant to be a lasting, faithful union. Divorce is allowed only in certain cases of uncleanness, not just because a wife no longer pleases her husband. A written divorce and the ban on returning to a former spouse warn against careless separation. The year at home for a new husband shows that God cares about love and stability in the early days of marriage. Overall, marriage is treated as a deep bond that should not be broken lightly.

Question 4

Why is a newly married man excused from war and business?

Accepted Answer

A man who had just taken a wife was not sent to war or loaded with other public duties for a whole year. He was to be free at home and cheer up his wife. This gave the couple time to know one another and build affection and trust. It guarded the marriage from neglect right at the start. By setting this rule, God showed that family stability and the joy of husband and wife together matter, even alongside national needs like war and government work.

Question 5

Why is taking a millstone as a pledge compared to taking a man’s life?

Accepted Answer

The millstone was used to grind grain for bread. If a lender took it as collateral, the borrower might not be able to make food and could slowly lose his means to live. So the law says that taking such an item is like taking a man’s life in pledge. This teaches that when we have power over another person’s goods, we must not take what they need to survive. Justice in lending is not just about getting money back, but about protecting a person’s life and dignity.

Question 6

How were poor workers protected in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Poor and needy hired servants, whether Israelites or foreigners living among them, were to be paid each day before sunset. A day laborer often lived hand to mouth and set his heart on that wage to buy food. Holding back pay would be oppression, and if he cried to God, it would be counted as sin. These commands show that God hears the needy and cares how they are treated. Employers were called to fairness, prompt payment, and kindness, not squeezing extra gain from the vulnerable.

Question 7

What do the lending and pledge laws show about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

The lending laws show that God cares about mercy as well as justice. Lenders were not allowed to storm into a borrower’s house and choose the pledge themselves. They had to wait outside and accept what was offered. If the borrower was poor and gave his cloak, it had to be returned by sunset so he could sleep in it. God sees such kindness as righteousness. This reveals a God who cares how power is used, who defends the weak, and who values compassion in everyday dealings.

Question 8

Why does the passage mention Miriam and leprosy?

Accepted Answer

The people are told to be careful in cases of leprosy and to follow what the priests teach, and then they are told to remember what God did to Miriam on the way from Egypt. Miriam had been struck with leprosy after speaking wrongly, and then healed. This reminder connects sickness, holiness, and obedience. It shows that these laws about checking leprosy were serious, and that disobedience and pride could bring painful results. It calls the people to respect God’s order and those he appoints.

Question 9

What is the purpose of leaving grain, olives, and grapes for others?

Accepted Answer

If a farmer forgot a sheaf in the field, or had already beaten the olive tree or gathered grapes once, he was not to go back over everything again. What was left was for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. This gave steady help to those who had no land or protector. It also reminded Israel that they had been slaves in Egypt and were now blessed by God. Sharing part of the harvest was a way of showing thanks to God and kindness to the weak at the same time.

Question 10

How can these laws about justice and mercy apply to life today?

Accepted Answer

While the exact rules about pledges or harvests may not match modern life, the heart behind them still speaks clearly. God cares how we treat spouses, workers, debtors, strangers, and the poor. We should not use people for gain or leave them without what they need to live. We should keep our marriages with care, pay what we owe on time, be gentle in collecting debts, and be ready to share what we have. Remembering how much God has helped us should move us to help others.

Deuteronomy 24:1

When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour 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.

Marriage and Divorce Laws

Additional Laws

Marriage and Divorce Laws

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Deuteronomy 24:1

When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour 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.

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Marriage and Divorce Laws

Additional Laws

Marriage and Divorce Laws

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