Deuteronomy 22:16

16 and the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and he spurns her;

Deuteronomy 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:16

And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders
Not her mother; hence we learn, says Jarchi, that a woman has not power (or is not allowed) to speak before men; that is, in public see ( 1 Corinthians 14:34 ) and it was most proper for a father to appear in court for her, and defend her; and if she had no parents living then, those that brought her up, her guardians, that had the education of her, and placing her out in marriage, were to undertake her cause; or, as Josephus ^F18 says, those that were next akin to her; or, as, Aben Ezra, one appointed by the court:

I gave my daughter unto this man to wife;
and, by the Jewish canons {s}, a man might give his daughter in marriage, but a woman might not:

and he hateth her;
has taken a dislike to her, and wants to be rid of her, and therefore has brought this infamous action against her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 23.
F19 Misn. Sotah, c. 3. sect. 8.

Deuteronomy 22:16 In-Context

14 and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings an evil name upon her, saying, 'I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not find in her the tokens of virginity,'

15 then the father of the young woman and her mother shall take and bring out the tokens of her virginity to the elders of the city in the gate;

16 and the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and he spurns her;

17 and lo, he has made shameful charges against her, saying, "I did not find in your daughter the tokens of virginity." And yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.

18 Then the elders of that city shall take the man and whip him;