Deuteronomy

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Deuteronomy 21 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Deuteronomy 21 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:

(21:1-8) What to do with a dead body
"If one be found slain in the land ... and it be not known who hath slain him: then ... the elders of that city shall take an heifer ... and shall strike off the heifer's neck ... And ... shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley ... And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it."
If you find a dead body and don't know the cause of death, then get all the elders together, cut off the head of a heifer, wash your hands over its body, and say "our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it." (That'll do it!)

What does the author of the SAB think should be done with a dead body? Just ignore it? In our days the police would spent a lot of hours on that. In those days there was no police, nor ability or wealth to produce nationwide investigations. On the other hand, situations like that should not be used so those in power can use it to cover up a murder. God takes murder very seriously, requiring the death penalty, see Gen. 9:6. So the elders here made a statement that they truly didn't know what had happened, and that no attempt at a cover up was made.

2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley:

5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

Prisoners of War

7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

8 Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

(21:10-14) "When thou goest forth to war ... And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her ... Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house, and ... thou shalt go in unto her ... And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go."
If you see a pretty woman among the captives and would like her for a wife, then just bring her home and "go in unto her." Later, if you decide you don't like her, you can "let her go."

The author of the SAB is incorrect in reading that the sending away happened or was allowed after the marriage with this prisoner. Marriage is till death, so simply sending your wife away was not allowed, the law, while not condoning that behaviour, required as protection for the wife so treated that she would receive a letter of separation.
A straight-forward reading of the text gives quite a different interpretation: when a woman was taken, she had to be shaved and her nails pared. There were two options then: she could be sent home or become this man's wife. As there were then thirty days for her to bewail her father and mother, what if this man changed his mind in those thirty days? Would he still be required to marry her? No says Moses, she may be sent home, but as she has been humbled, i.e. taken captive and her head shaved, she was allowed to depart freely.
The author of the SAB's reading cannot be correct as his reading doesn't explain at all what would be the procedure if this man didn't desire to marry her after all, and doesn't explain why this woman was not given a letter of divorce.
When this woman was married, this man and woman became man and wife, with all protections and obligations that entailed. She did not become a wife of secondary status.

11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;

13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.

14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

(21:15-17) "If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated"
Rules for those who have two wives: "one beloved, and another hated," and how to treat your hated children.
Is polygamy OK?
What the Bible says about polygamy

The law regulated multiple wives, as cases like that did happen, but did not condone it. It protected those that found themselves in that situation, but the law never promotes this behaviour, or makes it clear it is acceptable. Because there are laws on what to do when someone has stolen something, it doesn't make stealing OK.

16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

(21:16) "When he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath"
When a man dies, his sons inherit his property. Wives and daughters get nothing at all.

This law protected the sons of the wife resulting from a polygamous marriage. The heritage that is spoken of her, is land. If land would be divided, someone, through marriage, could gain hold of a lot of land. But that was not God's intention: every Israelite had the right to a portion of the land, so no one would have to go poor. But if land could be passed along female lines, this system would break down. By passing along male lines, land was kept in the family.
Note that when there was no male line, females could inherit the land.

17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

(21:18-21) "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother ... Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city ... And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die."
If you have a "stubborn and rebellious son," then you and the other men in your neighborhood "shall stone him with stones that he die."
What the Bible says about children and stoning

The age of such a son must be thirteen years and one day, not a child, but also not yet an adult.

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

(21:22-23) "If a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree ... he that is hanged is accursed of God."
Hang on trees the bodies of those who are "accursed of God." They make nice decorations.

The reasons why they were accursed is because they sinned. Sins worthy of death included murder. The author of the SAB may find it unjust that a murder is hanged, but he receives no more than he has done.

23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.