Deuteronomy 22:23

23 si puellam virginem desponderit vir et invenerit eam aliquis in civitate et concubuerit cum illa

Deuteronomy 22:23 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:23

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband,
&c.] But not married, not as yet brought home to her husband's house, and the marriage consummated; for the Jews distinguish between being betrothed or espoused, and married; and generally there was some time between the one and the other. And a wife was obtained in this way by three things; by money, which was the most usual; and by writing, which was to be done before witnesses, and with her consent; and by copulation, which, though valid, was not so much approved of F1. There is a whole treatise in the Misnah, called Kiddushin, or Espousals, which largely treats of this matter:

and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
with her consent, as might be presumed by her not crying out, when, had she, she might have been heard, being in a city; and her being there also makes against her, since, being betrothed to a man, she ought to have abode in her father's house till her husband fetched her home, and not to have gadded abroad in the city, where she was exposed to temptation.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Misn. Kiddushin, c. 1. sect. 1.

Deuteronomy 22:23 In-Context

21 eicient eam extra fores domus patris sui et lapidibus obruent viri civitatis eius et morietur quoniam fecit nefas in Israhel ut fornicaretur in domo patris sui et auferes malum de medio tui
22 si dormierit vir cum uxore alterius uterque morientur id est adulter et adultera et auferes malum de Israhel
23 si puellam virginem desponderit vir et invenerit eam aliquis in civitate et concubuerit cum illa
24 educes utrumque ad portam civitatis illius et lapidibus obruentur puella quia non clamavit cum esset in civitate vir quia humiliavit uxorem proximi sui et auferes malum de medio tui
25 sin autem in agro reppererit vir puellam quae desponsata est et adprehendens concubuerit cum illa ipse morietur solus
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.