Deuteronomy 21:11 - and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have a desire to her, and desire to take her as your wife;
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What does "Deuteronomy 21:11" mean?
Deuteronomy 21:11 is part of a section dealing with the laws of war in the Hebrew Bible. It addresses a specific scenario:
"And see among the captives a beautiful woman..." This refers to a female captive taken during a legitimate war.
"...and you have a desire to her, and desire to take her as your wife..." This describes a soldier's attraction and desire to marry the captive woman.
What it Means (and How it's Interpreted):
The verse doesn't endorse the practice of taking captives as wives. Instead, it regulates a situation that likely already occurred in ancient warfare. The following verses (21:12-14) outline a process to be followed if a soldier desired to marry a captive:
1. Bringing her into the house: The soldier must bring the woman into his house.
2. Shaving her head, trimming her nails, and removing her captive's garments: These acts were likely intended to symbolize a break from her past, her previous identity, and her status as a captive. Some interpretations see this as a period of mourning for her lost family and community.
3. A period of mourning: She is given a full month to mourn her family.
4. Then the marriage: Only after this period can the soldier marry her.
5. If he no longer desires her: If, after marrying her, he no longer desires her, he cannot sell her for money or treat her harshly. He must let her go free.
Key Considerations and Interpretations:
Regulation, Not Encouragement: Most interpretations emphasize that the passage is not encouraging taking captives as wives. Rather, it's an attempt to regulate the practice and mitigate its potential for abuse. The laws are designed to provide some protection and dignity to the captive woman.
Ethical Concerns: The passage raises significant ethical questions in a modern context. The very idea of taking captives as wives is inherently problematic and goes against modern understandings of consent, human rights, and international law.
Historical Context: It's crucial to understand the verse within its historical context. Warfare in the ancient world was brutal, and the treatment of captives was often harsh. These laws, while falling short of modern ethical standards, likely represented an attempt to introduce some level of fairness and compassion in a difficult situation.
Underlying Principle: Some see the underlying principle as a move towards greater justice and humanization, even if the specific application is troubling by today's standards. The regulations aim to prevent the woman from being treated as a mere object or slave, and to give her some agency, even in a highly constrained situation.
In summary, Deuteronomy 21:11 introduces a scenario in which a soldier desires to marry a female captive. The subsequent verses outline a process designed to regulate this practice and offer some protection to the woman, even while the practice itself raises significant ethical concerns from a modern perspective. The key is understanding the historical context and recognizing that the text is more about regulating an existing practice than endorsing it.
Deuteronomy 21:11 - and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have a desire to her, and desire to take her as your wife;
What does "Deuteronomy 21:11" mean?
Deuteronomy 21:11 is part of a section dealing with the laws of war in the Hebrew Bible. It addresses a specific scenario:
"And see among the captives a beautiful woman..." This refers to a female captive taken during a legitimate war.
"...and you have a desire to her, and desire to take her as your wife..." This describes a soldier's attraction and desire to marry the captive woman.
What it Means (and How it's Interpreted):
The verse doesn't endorse the practice of taking captives as wives. Instead, it regulates a situation that likely already occurred in ancient warfare. The following verses (21:12-14) outline a process to be followed if a soldier desired to marry a captive:
1. Bringing her into the house: The soldier must bring the woman into his house.
2. Shaving her head, trimming her nails, and removing her captive's garments: These acts were likely intended to symbolize a break from her past, her previous identity, and her status as a captive. Some interpretations see this as a period of mourning for her lost family and community.
3. A period of mourning: She is given a full month to mourn her family.
4. Then the marriage: Only after this period can the soldier marry her.
5. If he no longer desires her: If, after marrying her, he no longer desires her, he cannot sell her for money or treat her harshly. He must let her go free.
Key Considerations and Interpretations:
Regulation, Not Encouragement: Most interpretations emphasize that the passage is not encouraging taking captives as wives. Rather, it's an attempt to regulate the practice and mitigate its potential for abuse. The laws are designed to provide some protection and dignity to the captive woman.
Ethical Concerns: The passage raises significant ethical questions in a modern context. The very idea of taking captives as wives is inherently problematic and goes against modern understandings of consent, human rights, and international law.
Historical Context: It's crucial to understand the verse within its historical context. Warfare in the ancient world was brutal, and the treatment of captives was often harsh. These laws, while falling short of modern ethical standards, likely represented an attempt to introduce some level of fairness and compassion in a difficult situation.
Underlying Principle: Some see the underlying principle as a move towards greater justice and humanization, even if the specific application is troubling by today's standards. The regulations aim to prevent the woman from being treated as a mere object or slave, and to give her some agency, even in a highly constrained situation.
In summary, Deuteronomy 21:11 introduces a scenario in which a soldier desires to marry a female captive. The subsequent verses outline a process designed to regulate this practice and offer some protection to the woman, even while the practice itself raises significant ethical concerns from a modern perspective. The key is understanding the historical context and recognizing that the text is more about regulating an existing practice than endorsing it.