Deuteronomy 24:1-11

Marriage and divorce

1 Let's say a man marries a woman, but she isn't pleasing to him because he's discovered something inappropriate about her. So he writes up divorce papers, hands them to her, and sends her out of his house.
2 She leaves his house and ends up marrying someone else.
3 But this new husband also dislikes her, writes up divorce papers, hands them to her, and sends her out of his house (or suppose the second husband dies).
4 In this case, the first husband who originally divorced this woman is not allowed to take her back and marry her again after she has been polluted in this way because the LORD detests that. Don't pollute the land the LORD your God is giving to you as an inheritance.
5 A newly married man doesn't have to march in battle. Neither should any related duties be placed on him. He is to live free of such responsibilities for one year, so he can bring joy to his new wife.

Pawning

6 Millstones or even just the upper millstone must not be pawned, because that would be pawning someone's livelihood.

Kidnapping

7 If someone is caught kidnapping their fellow Israelites, intending to enslave the Israelite or sell them, that kidnapper must die. Remove such evil from your community!

Skin disease

8 Be on guard against outbreaks of skin disease by being very careful about what you do. You must carefully do everything the levitical priests teach you, just as I have commanded them.
9 Remember, after all, what the LORD your God did to Miriam on your departure from Egypt!

Loans

10 When you make any type of loan to your neighbor, don't enter their house to receive the collateral.
11 You must wait outside. The person to whom you are lending will bring the collateral to you out there.

Deuteronomy 24:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 24

This chapter contains various laws concerning divorces, De 24:1-4; the discharge of a newly married man from war and business, De 24:5; about taking pledges, De 24:6,10-13; man stealing, De 24:7; the plague of leprosy, De 24:8,9; and giving servants their hire in due time, De 24:14,15; concerning doing justice in capital cases, and towards the stranger, fatherless, and widow, De 24:16-18; and of charity to the poor, in allowing them the forgotten sheaf, and the gleanings of their oliveyards and vineyards, De 24:19-22.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or burn
  • [b]. Heb uncertain; traditionally leprosy—a term used for several different skin diseases
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