Deuteronomy 24:4
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 24:4
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 24 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of salvation, prayer, faith. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-22: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 24:4
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Analysis
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. The prohibition against the first husband remarrying her prevents treating marriage as temporary arrangement. Marriage should be permanent commitment, not revolving door relationship.
The word defiled is controversial - not that the woman sinned by remarrying (which was permitted) but that returning to the first husband after marrying another creates improper sexual combination. The intervening marriage makes reunion with the first husband inappropriate.
Calling this abomination before the LORD uses strong language indicating serious covenant violation. Though individual divorce may be permitted, manipulating marriages through divorce-remarriage cycles defiles the land and violates God's design for marriage permanence.
The phrase cause the land to sin emphasizes corporate consequences. Individual sexual sins defile not just persons but the land itself, affecting the whole community. Sexual ethics have public, communal dimensions.
Historical Context
This law prevented manipulation where men divorced wives temporarily, allowing them to marry others, then remarried them. Such treatment of marriage as fluid arrangement contradicted God's design for permanent covenants.
The language of land defilement recalls laws about sexual immorality (Leviticus 18:25-28) - sexual sin pollutes the land and brings judgment on the nation.
Reflection
- What does prohibition against remarrying the first husband teach about marriage permanence?
- How does this law prevent manipulation and protect women from being treated as commodities?
- Why does remarrying the first husband after intervening marriage constitute defilement?
- What does the language of land defilement teach about corporate consequences of sexual sin?
- How should the strong language ('abomination') shape our view of the seriousness of sexual ethics?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- References Lord: Jeremiah 3:1