The Skeptics Annotated Bible (194 page)

22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

24 When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

(24.1-4) If a man marries a woman and later finds “some uncleanness in her,” he can divorce her and kick her out of his house. If another man marries her and then dies, the first husband cannot marry her again. “For that is an abomination before the Lord.”
154 Is divorce ever permissible?
155 Is it OK for a divorced woman to remarry?

24
When a man hath taken a wife
, and married her,
and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement
, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

(24.1)
“When a man hath taken a wife … and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement.”

2 And
when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

(24.2)
“When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.”

3
And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement
, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

(24.3)
“And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement.”

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.

(24.4)
“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.”

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.

7
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die
; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

(24.7)
“If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die.”
Those who steal slaves and sell them must be executed.
42 Does God approve of slavery?

8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

9
Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam
by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

(24.9)
“Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam.”
He struck her with leprosy for rightly accusing Moses of breaking God’s laws regarding marriage (Numbers 12.10).

10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:

13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

(24.14-15) Do not oppress the poor, whether they be slaves, neighbors, or strangers. (Does this mean we can’t own slaves?)
42 Does God approve of slavery?

14
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers
that are in thy land within thy gates:

(25.14)
“Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers.”

15
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it
: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

(24.15)
“At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it.”

16
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

(24.16)
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
41 Are we punished for the sins of others?