Moses uniquely employs the Hebrew word "to'evah" (abomination) in verse 4 to describe remarriage to a first husband—the same term used for idolatry and sexual sins throughout Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 24
Law Concerning Divorce
1When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
3If the latter husband hates her, and writes her a certificate of divorce, 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;
4her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled; for that would be an abomination to the LORD. You shall not cause the land to sin, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
Miscellaneous Laws
5When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, neither shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.
6No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.
7If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.
8Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do.
9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.
10When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.
11You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you.
12If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge.
13You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God.
14You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates.
15In his day you shall give him his wages, neither shall the sun go down on it, for he is poor and sets his heart on it, lest he cry against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you.
16The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
17You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge;
18but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you there. Therefore I command you to do this thing.
19When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21When you harvest your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I command you to do this thing.
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Theme
Deuteronomy 24 presents a collection of civil and social laws governing marriage, economic relationships, and care for the vulnerable. The chapter begins with regulations on divorce and remarriage, then addresses various aspects of community life including lending practices, treatment of workers, and provisions for foreigners, orphans, and widows. These laws reflect God's concern for justice, human dignity, and compassionate treatment of society's most vulnerable members.
Context
This chapter continues the detailed legal code begun in chapter 23, providing specific applications of covenant principles before Moses' final speeches in chapters 27-30.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Laws on Divorce and Remarriage Regulations governing divorce certificates and prohibition against remarrying a former spouse after she has married another.
- 5 Newlywed Exemption from Military Service A newly married man must remain home for one year to establish his household.
- 6-9 Laws on Kidnapping and Leprosy Prohibitions against taking essential items as collateral, death penalty for kidnapping, and instructions regarding leprosy.
- 10-15 Fair Lending and Labor Practices Regulations protecting debtors' dignity and ensuring prompt payment of wages to workers.
- 16-18 Individual Responsibility and Justice for All Principle of personal accountability for sin and protection of foreigners, orphans, and widows from injustice.
- 19-22 Provisions for the Needy Requirements to leave portions of harvest for society's most vulnerable members.
Law Concerning Divorce
24:1–24:4 law instruction solemn
Laws regulating divorce procedures and remarriage restrictions. Establishes that a divorced woman who remarries cannot return to her first husband, preventing potential abuse of divorce laws.
structural
Moses uniquely employs the Hebrew word "to'evah" (abomination) in verse 4 to describe remarriage to a first husband—the same term used for idolatry and sexual sins throughout Deuteronomy.
Miscellaneous Laws
24:5–24:22 law instruction solemn
Various laws protecting the vulnerable including newlyweds, debtors, workers, and foreigners. Emphasizes individual responsibility for sin and compassionate treatment of the poor and marginalized.
person_contrast
Miriam's leprosy episode (v.9) uniquely transforms from a narrative of divine judgment into legal precedent, making her the only biblical figure whose personal punishment becomes codified law for future generations.
Insights
Miriam's leprosy episode (v.9) uniquely transforms from a narrative of divine judgment into legal precedent, making her the only biblical figure whose personal punishment becomes codified law for future generations.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Deuteronomy 24:1 1 reference
Deuteronomy 24:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Isaiah 50:1 Lexical
The LORD says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? Or to which of my creditors…
2 Chronicles 20:34 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hana…
Isaiah 30:8 Lexical
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and eve…
2 Chronicles 25:26 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren’t they written in the book of the kings of Judah and I…
2 Chronicles 28:26 Lexical
Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah a…
Deuteronomy 24:4 2 references
Deuteronomy 24:7 2 references
Deuteronomy 24:13 1 reference
Deuteronomy 24:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 22:29 Lexical
The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have…
Malachi 3:5 Lexical
I will come near to you to judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against th…
Psalms 72:4 Lexical
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.
Zechariah 7:10 Lexical
Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brothe…
Deuteronomy 14:21 Lexical
You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your…
Deuteronomy 24:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Malachi 3:5 Lexical
I will come near to you to judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against th…
Deuteronomy 27:19 Lexical
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deuteronomy 10:18 Lexical
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing.
Jeremiah 22:3 Lexical
The LORD says: “Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no…
Isaiah 10:2 Lexical
to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder,…
Deuteronomy 24:18 1 reference
Deuteronomy 24:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 14:29 Lexical
The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherles…
Deuteronomy 26:13 Lexical
You shall say before the LORD your God, “I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to th…
Leviticus 23:22 Lexical
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field. You must not gather t…
Leviticus 23:10 Lexical
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap i…
Deuteronomy 26:12 Lexical
When you have finished tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you…
Deuteronomy 24:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 26:13 Lexical
You shall say before the LORD your God, “I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to th…
Deuteronomy 27:19 Lexical
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Jeremiah 7:6 Lexical
if you don’t oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and don’t shed innocent blood in this place, and don’…
Psalms 94:6 Lexical
They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless.
Deuteronomy 16:11 Lexical
You shall rejoice before the LORD your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Le…
Deuteronomy 24:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 19:10 Lexical
You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for…
Deuteronomy 26:12 Lexical
When you have finished tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you…
Deuteronomy 16:11 Lexical
You shall rejoice before the LORD your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Le…
Psalms 146:9 Lexical
The LORD preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down.
Deuteronomy 16:14 Lexical
You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the f…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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v. 21
v. 22
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
Israel's experience as oppressed foreigners in Egypt motivates compassionate treatment of vulnerable people.
Miscellaneous Laws