Deuteronomy 24:1-10

Law of Divorce

1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some 1indecency in her, and 2he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house,
2 and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man's wife,
3 and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife,
4 then her 3former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since * she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.
5 "4When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall 5give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

Sundry Laws

6 "No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.
7 "6If a man is caught kidnapping any of his countrymen of the sons of Israel, and he deals with him violently or sells him, then that thief shall die; so you shall purge the evil from among you.
8 "7Be careful against an infection of leprosy, that you diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you; as I have commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.
9 "Remember what the LORD your God did 8to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.
10 "9When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:1-10 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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Numbers 5:12, 28; Deuteronomy 22:13-21
  • 2. Matthew 5:31; Matthew 19:7-9; Mark 10:4, 5
  • 3. Jeremiah 3:1
  • 4. Deuteronomy 20:7
  • 5. Proverbs 5:18
  • 6. Exodus 21:16
  • 7. Lev 13:1-14, 57
  • 8. Numbers 12:10
  • 9. Exodus 22:26, 27

Footnotes 5

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