Several times in this Bible blog project, I’ve found myself in the unfortunate position of having to “explain away” the Bible’s provisions. I’ve tried to catch myself in taking that stance, primarily because the Bible doesn’t need to be explained away, and it certainly doesn’t need me to do it.
The Word of God stands on its own merits. If our culture has an issue with it, take it up with God’s Word.
Instead, I’ve made an effort to simply put these laws in their proper context to the best of my ability. One such example is found in Deuteronomy 21:10-14, which is the first of three laws concerning marriage.
This Text specifically has to do with how to treat a woman, captured during a battle, that an Israelite may want to marry. If we can ignore all the anachronistic ideas concerning slavery and warfare in general, I think that what we find here is a series of clauses that do quite a bit to preserve the integrity of the woman.
For starters, and arguably most importantly, God puts a one-month stay on the marriage between a captured woman and an Israelite soldier. Technically, the reason given is so that the woman may mourn her parents (which is thoughtful), but it also prohibits the soldier from simply acting out of lust.
Curiously, there’s another clause that may point to that as well. When Deuteronomy 21:12 mentions that the woman should “shave her head and trim her nails,” most academics view that as a purification ritual. Others view it possibly as a way to make her less appealing. If the soldier still wants to marry her, it’s not based solely on looks.
Lastly, if the man later decides to divorce this woman because of something that is “displeasing,” then he must allow her to go wherever she wishes. For free. He is not allowed to sell her or mistreat her in any way.
Taken individually, these ideas don’t seem that important. But when you look at them collectively, it shows not only that God has the welfare of women in mind, but also expects His people to do the same.