“Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate.”
Deuteronomy 22:15 addresses a specific scenario involving accusations of premarital sexual relations in the context of a betrothed woman. To understand the verse better, it’s essential to examine its surrounding verses for context. Let’s explore the broader passage from Deuteronomy 22:13-21:
“If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, and give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days. But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”
In this passage, the scenario involves a man who accuses his newly married wife of not being a virgin before their marriage. The verse specifically outlines the process for handling such accusations.
The Accusation:If a man marries a woman and later accuses her of not being a virgin when they wed, he brings up an “evil name” upon her.
The Evidence:In response to the accusation, the girl’s father and mother are to bring forth the “tokens of the damsel’s virginity” before the elders of the city at the gate. These tokens could be some form of evidence, such as a cloth that indicates the girl’s virginity.
The Defense:The father speaks on behalf of his daughter, affirming that he gave her to the man as a wife and refuting the accusation.
The Judgment:The elders of the city examine the evidence presented. If they find that the tokens of virginity are valid, meaning the girl was indeed a virgin at the time of marriage, they punish the accusing husband by fining him a hundred shekels of silver and declare that he must keep the woman as his wife, unable to divorce her.
The Consequence:If the accusation is found to be true, and the tokens of virginity are not present, indicating that the woman was not a virgin at the time of marriage, she is to be brought to the door of her father’s house, and the men of the city are to stone her to death. This severe punishment reflects
the gravity of the offense, as it is seen as bringing dishonor and shame upon her father’s house and committing adultery.
It is essential to understand the cultural and historical context of this passage. In ancient Israelite society, virginity was highly valued, especially in the context of marriage. A woman’s virginity was seen as a sign of purity and fidelity. Marriages were often arranged, and a bride’s virginity was considered evidence of her faithfulness to her future husband.
The passage itself does not imply that a woman’s worth is solely dependent on her virginity, but rather, it addresses the importance of honesty and fidelity within the context of marriage. It establishes a legal framework for addressing accusations and seeks to maintain the integrity of the marital union.
It is crucial to note that the laws and punishments described in the Old Testament, including this passage, were specific to the ancient Israelite theocratic society and should be interpreted within that context. As Christians, we understand that Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and established a new covenant, emphasizing forgiveness, grace, and mercy (Matthew 5:17, Romans 10:4). Therefore, while we can learn from these ancient laws, our understanding of morality and relationships is primarily shaped by the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament.
