For the sake of time and to keep things simple, I'm going to keep this more concise . And focus in on the chapter with the verse you highlighted.
Deuteronomy 22:
20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."
All I can say is, we can see this rule is not in effect in these day. This token can only be guessed at what it was. But, if it was found out she, or anyone, was going against the commandments of God, this was the penalty at that time. The scriptures in Leviticus and the rest of Deuteronomy show what kind of perverse things were going on, even today. And God is against it. Weather its a women or man. Today, these laws are not followed, and we see the results in society .
Deuteronomy 22:22 "If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
Deuteronomy 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find here in the city, and lie with her;
( A married women, sleeping with a man other then her husband. And a man, sleeping with some one's wife. )
Deuteronomy 22:24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbours wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you."
( She did not cry out against the act , means she was a willing particapent.. And the man, because he sleept with some ones wife. )
Deuteronomy 22:25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
( In this case, if a man force her , means rape. The penalty for rape here is death as it repeates again in verse 26. )
Deuteronomy 22:26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:
( Rape in the eyes of God is in the same degree of sin as that of murdering a neighbor without cause. Rape and premeditated criminal homicide are treated exactly alike, with the same punishments before the eyes of God. God has no patience with a rapist. God is telling us to kill the rapist, and send him to Him. So these things will not happen again, and it will establish order in the community so that others that have the penalty will keep it in mind and think twice before doing such an act. The rapist that is killed, can not commit the crime again. )
Deuteronomy 22:27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her....
( This next example below is not rape. And if it was the case, that the relashinship was forced, its the same penalty to the rapist as just stated in
verse 26 . )
Deuteronomy 22:28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days."
( In this case both the man and the woman were both consenting to their sexual relationship, and when they have had this relationship together, they are to married. Though there are biblical reasons for divorce, a man could not use those reasons if he and she had engaged in premarital sex, under this law.
To make clear again: the Word of God, documentend in
verse 26, that a man that rapes a women, is to be put to death. So, no matter the situation, married, or not, if, he forced her , the penalty still stands. A rapist must be put to death .
The part here that must be considered is whether or not she chose to be in that sexual relationship. She should not be forced to marry , if he forced himself upon her. If he forced that relationship, than the penalty for rape as we just read is the same .The difference between these two cases was that in the first case the woman was betrothed, and in the second case she was not.
The virgin girl that is not engaged or married to a man has the same rights as the young lady that is engaged to be married. I know our heavenly Father would have the same penalty on the man committing the act regardless of the marital status of the lady. And a Christian that cares what God's Words should know that. )
