Deuteronomy 24:3-13

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 ¹former 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 "²When 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 ³give 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 "⁴If 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 "⁵Be 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 ⁶to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.

10 "⁷When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge.

11 "You shall remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.

12 "If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge.

13 "⁸When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and ⁹it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 24:3-13 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

• 1. Jeremiah 3:1
• 2. Deuteronomy 20:7
• 3. Proverbs 5:18
• 4. Exodus 21:16
• 5. Lev 13:1-14, 57
• 6. Numbers 12:10
• 7. Exodus 22:26, 27
• 8. Exodus 22:26
• 9. Deuteronomy 6:25; Psalms 106:31; Daniel 4:27

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "hates her"
• [b] Lit "found stealing"
• [c] Lit "brothers"
• [d] Lit "a mark" or "stroke"