DeutéronomeChapitre 24

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If a man marries a woman and then finds her displeasing because he has discovered something offensive about her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.

And if, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man's wife,

and this second husband also turns against her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house—or if the second husband dies—

then her first husband, who divorced her, may not take her back as his wife, since she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the LORD's sight. You must not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance.

When a man has just married, he is not to go out with the army or be assigned any other duty. He shall be free to stay at home for one year, to bring joy to the wife he has married.

No one is to take a pair of millstones—or even the upper stone—as security for a debt, for that would be taking a life as security.

If a man is caught kidnapping one of his brothers, an Israelite, and treats him as a slave and sells him, that kidnapper must die. You are to purge the evil from among you.

In cases of skin disease, be careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you. Take care to follow what I have commanded them.

Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam along the way after you came out of Egypt.

When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into his house to collect what he offers as security.

Stay outside, and let the man to whom you are making the loan bring the pledge out to you.

If he is poor, do not go to sleep holding his pledge.

Be sure to return the pledge to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you. This will be counted as righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

Do not exploit a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or a foreigner living in one of your towns.

Pay him his wages the same day, before the sun goes down, because he is poor and his life depends on it. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Fathers are not to be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the orphan, and do not take a widow's garment as security.

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

When you are harvesting in your field and overlook a sheaf, do not go back for it. Leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches again. What is left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.

When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go back over the vines. What is left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.

Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 24

Main Theme: Laws that protect vulnerable groups and promote justice in society.

Content: The chapter provides regulations concerning divorce and forbids remarrying a former wife after she has married someone else. A newlywed man is exempt from military service for one year. Several laws protect the poor, foreigners, widows, and fatherless children—including prohibitions against oppressing day laborers and commands to leave portions of the harvest for those in need. The principle of individual responsibility is established: no one shall die for another's sin.

Key Terms/Images:

Bill of Divorce (סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת): Formal documentation that regulates divorce and protects a woman's rights.
Leaving the Harvest: Fields, olive trees, and vineyards are not to be harvested completely—the remainder belongs to the poor.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt: The basis for showing care toward vulnerable groups—Israel's own experience as an oppressed people.
Individual Responsibility: Each person must bear the consequences of their own sin, not that of family members.

Contexte historique

Historical and Cultural Context for Deuteronomy 24

Events and Customs

Divorce Practices and the Bill of Divorce (vv. 1–4)

The expression "סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת" (séfer keritut, "bill of divorce") describes a formal legal document that granted a woman the right to remarry. This was an important protection in a culture where women were economically dependent on men. The Hebrew phrase "עֶרְוַת דָּבָר" (ervat davar, "something indecent or shameful") became the subject of intense rabbinic debate between the schools of Hillel and Shammai regarding what constituted legitimate grounds for divorce.

Exemption from Military Service for Newlyweds (v. 5)

The law that a newly married man should be "נָקִי" (naki, "free/exempt") for one year from military service and public duties reflects both practical and theological considerations. This protected the new family and ensured that the husband could "make his wife happy" (cf. Deut 20:7).

Millstones as Pledge (v. 6)

The hand mill ("רֵחַיִם וָרָכֶב", rechayim varachev – both the lower and upper stones) was absolutely essential for daily bread production in Israelite households. Taking this as a pledge would deprive a family of the ability to prepare food.

Harvest Regulations for the Vulnerable (vv. 19–22)

The practice of leaving "עֹמֶר" (omer, "sheaf") in the field, as well as fruit on olive trees and grapevines, institutionalized a system of charity that ensured foreigners, fatherless children, and widows had access to food.

Key Terms

Kidnapping (v. 7)

The expression "גֹּנֵב נֶפֶשׁ" (gonev nefesh, "to steal a soul/person") describes kidnapping with the intent to sell the victim as a slave. This was punishable by death.

Skin Disease and the Example of Miriam (vv. 8–9)

The word "צָרַעַת" (tsara'at) is traditionally translated as "leprosy," but it likely covered several serious skin diseases and conditions with ritual significance. The reference to Miriam points back to Numbers 12:10–15, where she was struck with this affliction as punishment for criticizing Moses. This serves as a warning to follow the priests' guidance in such matters.

Individual Responsibility (v. 16)

The principle "אִישׁ בְּחֶטְאוֹ יוּמָתוּ" (ish becheto yumatu, "each shall die for their own sin") represented an important legal reform that limited the scope of punishment to the guilty individual alone.

People

Miriam (v. 9)

Miriam is mentioned as a warning example. She was the sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess (Exod 15:20), and a central figure during the Exodus from Egypt. Her punishment with skin disease (Num 12) serves here as a reminder of the seriousness of following the Lord's commands, especially regarding matters of ritual purity.

Personnages1

Mary1

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Mots-clés7

Divorce — The process by which a marriage is dissolved and two people become legally separated.
Debt slave — A person who works to repay a debt, often in the form of service or labor.
Ransom — Payment required to free someone from captivity or slavery.
Clothing — Garments that people wear to cover their bodies and protect themselves from weather conditions.
Widow — A woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
Poor — People who lack financial resources and material goods, often living under difficult circumstances.
Justice — The principle of acting rightly and lawfully, and treating others with respect and honesty.