Exodus 22:16–17

If in Exodus 21 we get judgments which extend "You shall not kill," in Exodus 22 we find judgments extending "You shall not steal." Men can defraud each other in many ways. This theme continues to the end of verse 17, because a girl may be defrauded of her virtue. A penalty stands against this as against all the rest. The first demand is for "restitution." If that is not possible, then he must pay damages. No one could devise a fairer penalty than this.

We now come to commands of a different kind. The first of these deals with sexual desire (v. 16). The guilt is supposed here to attach mainly to the man — though the woman is not excepted from her share. But a man cannot sin lightly and then act as if he had not sinned, especially in the way mentioned here. So he incurred the obligation of endowing her to be his wife.

The sum paid by a man to the relatives of the woman who becomes his wife (Gen. 34:12; Ex. 22:16-17; 1 Sam. 18:25; compare Hosea 3:2). Leah, on having her sixth son, devoutly said, "God has endowed me with a good endowment." Gen. 30:20. The dowry Jacob gave for his wives was seven years' service for each. Gen. 29:18, 27.

A man seducing a woman who was not engaged or married was responsible to marry her. If the father of the girl refused this, the guilty man had to pay money to the father (v. 17).

Suppose a man and woman who were neither married nor engaged were guilty of sexual intercourse. The man had to pay fifty shekels of silver to the woman's father and keep her as his wife. He could never divorce her (vv. 28-29). In all these things God shows the seriousness of having sexual relationships. He intended this only within the marriage bond. Those who violate that today can expect unpleasant consequences, as well as the displeasure of the Lord.

Paul lays down the principle. "Do you not know," he says, "that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, 'The two will become one flesh'" (1 Cor. 6:16). For the same reason our blessed Lord taught, "Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery" (Matt. 19:9). What a comment this is on human laws that permit divorce on other grounds. Such laws ignore the wisdom of God completely, and betray total ignorance of the basic relationships between man and woman. We are bound to obey the governing authorities when they are not in conflict with the authority of God. Even so, the law of the land cannot be the guide for the conscience of the believer or of the church.

In Exodus 21 we get judgments that extend "You shall not kill." In Exodus 22 we get judgments that extend "You shall not steal." Men may defraud each other in many ways, and this theme runs to the end of verse 17. A young woman may be defrauded of her virtue, and a penalty stands against this as against all the rest. The first demand is for "restitution," and, if that is not possible, then damages must be paid. No fairer form of penalty than this can be devised.

This law deals with sexual desire (v. 16). The guilt here is treated as belonging mainly to the man — though the woman is not excused from her share. But a man cannot sin lightly and then act as if he had not sinned, especially in the way mentioned here. So he took on the obligation of paying her bride-price and having her as his wife. Paul states the principle. "Do you not know," he says, "that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, 'The two will become one flesh'" (1 Corinthians 6:16). For the same reason our Lord taught, "Whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). What a comment on human laws that allow divorce on other grounds. They ignore the wisdom of God, and they show complete ignorance of the basic relationships between man and woman.

The sum paid by a man to the relatives of the woman who becomes his wife. Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16-17; 1 Samuel 18:25; compare Hosea 3:2. Leah, on having her sixth son, said devoutly, "God has endowed me with a good endowment." Genesis 30:20. The dowry which Jacob gave for his wives was seven years' service for each. Genesis 29:18, 27.

A man seducing a woman who was not engaged or married was responsible to marry her. If the father of the girl refused this, the guilty man had to pay money to the father (v. 17).

After this follow the general institutions of the law, which mainly insist on retribution. No one may take advantage of the weak or the dependent. Violence cannot go unpunished, and neither can dishonour where we owe respect. Restitution must be made, and this double, fourfold, or even fivefold, according to the wrong.

It is not necessary for our purpose to consider each statute in detail; a few only will be enough, though the consideration of each would yield valuable instruction as witnessing to God's gracious care and protection of those who were weak and in a position of inferiority, and who, as such, might be subject to oppression and to being unjustly dealt with by those who were stronger and in a place of authority over them.

If a man and woman who were not married or engaged were guilty of sexual intercourse, the man had to pay fifty shekels of silver to the woman's father. He also had to keep her as his wife, and he was never allowed to divorce her. In all of these things God shows the seriousness of having sexual relationships. He intended it only within the marriage bond. Those who break that today can expect unpleasant consequences, and the displeasure of the Lord.