The 7th Commandment Expanded - Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (Deuteronomy 22: 9-30)

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Episode Notes:

Introduction

• The Ten Commandments, given by the Lord to Moses, are widely known and respected as an ethical code.
• Deuteronomy serves as a detailed exposition of these commandments, providing specific applications.
• Deuteronomy 22, specifically addressing the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery."

Themes of Separation and Purity

• Deuteronomy 22 begins with themes of separation and purity, setting the stage for the discussion on sexual immorality.
• The initial verses, seemingly unrelated to sexual sin, emphasize the importance of maintaining purity in various aspects of life.

Verses 9-11: Object Lessons of Separation

1. Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard (v.9):
   • Similar to Leviticus 19:19.
   • Emphasis on keeping seeds pure and separate.
2. Do not plough with an ox and a donkey yoked together (v.10):
   • Similar to Leviticus 19:19.
   • Emphasis on not mixing different kinds of animals.
3. Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together (v.11):
   • Similar to Leviticus 19:19.
   • Emphasis on keeping garments pure and separate.

Verse 12: Tassels as Reminders

• Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear (v.12):
  • Purpose: Reminders to keep God's commandments.
  • Explained further in Numbers 15:38-40.

Verses 13-30: Cases of Sexual Immorality

1. False Accusation of Infidelity (v.13-19):
   • If a husband falsely accuses his wife of not being a virgin, her parents can provide evidence to the city elders.
   • Consequences for the husband: Punishment, a fine, and a lifelong prohibition on divorcing his wife.
2. True Accusation of Infidelity (v.20-21):
   • If the accusation is true, the woman faces severe punishment for committing sexual immorality and deception.
3. Adultery (v.22):
   • Both parties involved in adultery are to be put to death.
4. Rape of a Betrothed Woman (v.23-27):
   • Differentiates between consensual relations and rape.
   • The man who rapes a betrothed woman in the country is put to death; the woman is not punished.
5. Rape of an Unbetrothed Virgin (v.28-29):
   • The man must marry the woman and can never divorce her, serving as a deterrent to rape.
6. Incestuous Relationship (v.30):
   • Prohibits marrying a father's wife, emphasizing the sanctity of family relationships.

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Transcript

The Seventh Commandment. (Deuteronomy 22: 9-30)

Transcript: 

The Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These commandments are probably the most widely known ethical code in all of human history. 

However, although wide reaching they also can appear to be very general at time general. Maybe it would have been helpful if Moses had provided specific applications for each of these commandments. 

Well in essence, that’s what he does in the book of Deuteronomy. Most Bible teachers suggest that in the part of Deuteronomy we’re studying at the moment, Moses is in effect expounding on the Ten Commandments.

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy chapter 22, which deals specifically with the seventh commandment. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

So let’s look at Deuteronomy 22 and Moses' specific applications of the seventh commandment. 

What intrigued me about this passage is it clearly addresses sexual sin later on, but it begins with something that doesn’t seem related to sexual immorality at all. Instead it highlights the themes of separation and purity, which are especially evident in the first part of this passage.

However today we will discover that the seventh commandment, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ also involves mixing people in ways they should not mix. The Israelites are told they need to keep certain things separate, and adultery will viewed as a form of impurity in various aspects of life, not just marriage but in the family, the social, the political, the religious and the spiritual life of everyone and everything.

Welcome….

Let’s begin by looking at look at Deuteronomy 22, beginning with verse 9. It says,

Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.

(Deuteronomy 22: 9)

Before I comment on that verse, let me remind you of a similar statement in Leviticus 19:19, which says, “You shall not sow your field with mixed seed.” The meaning of these verses is clear: you should not mix seeds in the same plot of ground. But what’s the deeper significance?

The key word here is “pure.” Applying it to the text the idea of the purity of the scripture and the purity of the people. They both focus on the concept of purity. The idea here is to keep the seed separate to maintain purity.

If that isn’t confusing enough, let’s look at the next verse, , which says, 

Do not plough with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

(Deuteronomy 22: 10)

Leviticus 19:19 also says, “You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind.” 

The idea is similar: do not yoke two different animals together. 

Some point out that the steps and pulling angle of the two beasts are unequal, or that they pull the plough at different rates. Be that as it may, verse 9 clearly says don’t mix seeds, and verse 10 says don’t mix animals.

Are you confused yet? Let’s move on to the next verse.

Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

(Deuteronomy 22:11)

Leviticus 19:19 also says, “Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.” Although not exactly the same, Deuteronomy 22 and Leviticus 19 are very similar and, in some translations, exactly the same. 

What’s the point of all this? One commentator suggests that God is a God of separation, and in these physical examples, He was teaching His people to separate themselves from sin and defilement. 

So, again: the basic idea of separation and purity is seen here.

Some look at this verse and see it as a reference to the pagan priests who wore garments mixed with wool and linen. Others suggest that some Israelites wore mixed garments, and God was trying to say, “Separate them.”

So, what’s going on here? Not mixing seeds, animals, and clothes is clearly an object lesson on separation and implied purity.  In fact Deuteronomy 22:9-11 and Leviticus 19:19 earlier use the same illustrations or object lessons. But interestingly in both passages, Moses talks about sexual sin immediately afterward. 

Let me suggest that these examples of what are called object lessons. Forget the modern application of that phrase, this is where the term really comes form in that the bible sometimes uses physical objects to remind us of something deeper. These are clearly object lessons.

Now, let’s move to the next part of the passage, starting with verse 12.

Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

(Deuteronomy 22: 12)

Where does Moses come up with all these specific rules, like having four little tassels on your clothes? If you've seen Orthodox Jews walking around today, they still follow this practice. But what's the meaning behind it?

The purpose is not stated in Deuteronomy, but it is explained in Numbers 15:38-40, where it says.

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.

(Numbers 15: 38-40)

In essence, the tassels are a physical reminder to keep God's commandments.

Now, let's remind ourselves of what Deuteronomy 22 ha started by telling us

·         Separate the seeds.

·         Separate the animals.

·         Separate the kinds of cloth that you put on your body.

·         Put tassels on your clothes.

These commands all emphasize separation and purity. 

But now, immediately following these physical examples of separation, Moses will addresses types of sexual sin, making the point that we should also separate ourselves from sexual sin to maintain purity.

The rest of the chapter, 22:13-30, will address five specific cases of sexual immorality, providing concrete applications of the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery."

False Accusation of Infidelity:

13 If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to the town elders at the gate proof that she was a virgin. 16 Her father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels[b] of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

(Deuteronomy 22: 13-19)

If a man accuses his new wife of not being a virgin, her parents are to provide evidence of her virginity to the city elders. This evidence is typically a blood-stained garment or bed sheet from the wedding night.

If the accusation is proven false, the husband faces three consequences:

The exact nature of the punishment is not specified, but it could include being whipped with 40 stripes, as suggested by many bible experts based on Deuteronomy 25.

The husband must also pay a fine: The husband must pay 100 shekels of silver to the woman's father for bringing a bad name upon his daughter. This amount is roughly double the bride price.

Furthermore, the man cannot divorce his wife for the rest of his life, regardless of his feelings towards her. So, the emphasis is on protecting the woman’s reputation and ensuring justice if she is falsely accused.

A man cannot simply get a divorce on a whim. This means that if a husband falsely accuses his wife, he cannot just dismiss her. The case must be brought before the elders of the city, the equivalent of our modern-day court system. They will determine whether the accusation is valid. 

So in this scenario, the husband lied about his wife. But what if he was telling the truth? Let's look at verse 20:

20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found, 21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done an outrageous thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you.

(Deuteronomy 22: 20-22)

If the accusation is true and the woman is found guilty, she faces severe consequences. She is punished for three reasons:

1.     Committing sexual immorality: She engaged in premarital sex.

2.     Deceiving her husband: She lied about her virginity.

3.     Deceiving her father: She dishonoured her family.

For this, she is stoned to death. This harsh penalty at this time underscores the seriousness of sexual immorality in the Old Testament, equating it with the severity of murder since these are two of only a few things that warranted the death penalty.

From a scriptural perspective, sex is considered the consummation of marriage and is not to be participated in before marriage. 

Secondly, moving to verse 22:

If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.

(Deuteronomy 22: 22-24)

Here, the passage addresses clear-cut adultery. If a married person is caught in the act, both parties involved are to be put to death. The method of execution is not specified here, but other passages suggest stoning was the common practice. This is further illustrated in the New Testament, where in John 8, a woman caught in adultery is nearly stoned until Jesus intervenes.

This severe punishment demonstrates the serious view of adultery in the Old Testament, emphasizing the need to purge such things from the community. The penalty is death, again reinforcing the sanctity of marriage.

It's worth noting the distinction between fornication and adultery:

Fornication: A broad term encompassing all unlawful sexual activity outside of marriage.

Adultery: Specifically refers to sexual relations where one or both parties are married to someone else.

There are additional cases to consider:

Thirdly Rape. (verse 25-27):

But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die. Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor, for the man found the young woman out in the country, and though the betrothed woman screamed, there was no one to rescue her.

(Deuteronomy 22: 25-27)

Consensual sexual relations with a betrothed woman in the city (not explicitly mentioned here but relevant): If it happens in the city and the woman did not cry out, both parties are guilty and to be stoned. This implies that the woman’s silence indicates consent.

Next situation.

If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels[c] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. (Deuteronomy 22: 28-29)

Now, we come to a case that underscores the same principle: a man must marry the woman and can never divorce her, forever binding them together. This likely served as a deterrent to rape, creating significant consequences for such actions. 

The fifth final case, which I find particularly interesting due to its ramifications, is found in verse 30:

A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonour his father’s bed.

(Deuteronomy 22: 30)

We need to parse this carefully. The phrase "his father's wife" refers to a stepmother, not his biological mother. The implication is that the man marries his father’s second wife. This act is still defined as incest according to scripture, and God forbids it. The term "uncover his father's bed" is a euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse with her.

What makes this case particularly noteworthy is its mention in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addresses a similar situation: He writes

"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?"

Paul expresses shock that such a sin is present within the Christian community, a sin so grievous that even non-believers wouldn't engage in it he says. He instructs the church to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

This New Testament punishment of excommunication parallels the Old Testament penalty of death for similar offenses, reflecting the severity with which God views sexual immorality.

To sum up in this chapter, the Lord commands the children of Israel to live separated from sin, particularly in matters of sexual purity. This includes not only adultery but also fornication, rape, and incest. The seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," is now extended beyond mere adultery to encompass these other sexual sins.

The initial commandments about separating seeds, animals, and cloth serve as object lessons in maintaining purity, which are then expanded upon in the second half of the passage.

Just as these items are kept separate to remain pure, so too should individuals maintain sexual purity until and within marriage.

This passage, therefore, carries a broader message: Sex is meant for marriage, and individuals should keep themselves pure until that time and after it in honouring the married relationship.

This principle of separation and purity applies not only to young people, which the modern church loves to focus on these days but to all who seek to live holy lives dedicated to the Lord. By separating ourselves from sin and maintaining purity, we honour God’s commandments and live in a way that reflects His holiness.

God's standards for holiness remain unchanged. Whether in the Old or New Testament, the call to purity and separation from sin is a central theme, urging believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness and righteousness.