Deuteronomy — Chapter 24

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1When 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.

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

3And 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;

4Her 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.

5When 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.

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

7If 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.

8Take 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.

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

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

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

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

13In 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.

14Thou 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:

15At 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.

16The 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.

17Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:

18But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

19When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

20When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

22And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

1When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

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

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

4her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

5When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.

6No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh [a man`s] life to pledge.

7If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.

8Take 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.

9Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt.

10When thou dost lend thy neighbor any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

11Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee.

12And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;

13thou shalt surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before Jehovah thy God.

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

15in 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 Jehovah, and it be sin unto thee.

16The 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.

17Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to the sojourner, [or] to the fatherless, nor take the widow`s raiment to pledge;

18but thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

19When thou reapest thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.

20When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21When thou gatherest [the grapes of] thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it after thee: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

22And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

1If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something indecent in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house.

2When she has left him she may go and become someone else’s wife.

3If the second husband rejects her and then divorces her, gives her the papers, and evicts her from his house, or if the second husband who married her dies,

4her first husband who divorced her is not permitted to remarry her after she has become ritually impure, for that is offensive to the Lord. You must not bring guilt on the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

5When a man is newly married, he need not go into the army nor be obligated in any way; he must be free to stay at home for a full year and bring joy to the wife he has married.

6One must not take either lower or upper millstones as security on a loan, for that is like taking a life itself as security.

7If a man is found kidnapping a person from among his fellow Israelites, and regards him as mere property and sells him, that kidnapper must die. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.

8Be careful during an outbreak of leprosy to follow precisely all that the Levitical priests instruct you; as I have commanded them, so you should do.

9Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam along the way after you left Egypt.

10When you make any kind of loan to your neighbor, you may not go into his house to claim what he is offering as security.

11You must stand outside and the person to whom you are making the loan will bring out to you what he is offering as security.

12If the person is poor you may not use what he gives you as security for a covering.

13You must by all means return to him at sunset the item he gave you as security so that he may sleep in his outer garment and bless you for it; it will be considered a just deed by the Lord your God.

14You must not oppress a lowly and poor servant, whether one from among your fellow Israelites or from the resident foreigners who are living in your land and villages.

15You must pay his wage that very day before the sun sets, for he is poor and his life depends on it. Otherwise he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

16Fathers must not be put to death for what their children do, nor children for what their fathers do; each must be put to death for his own sin.

17You must not pervert justice due a resident foreigner or an orphan, or take a widow’s garment as security for a loan.

18Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do all this.

19Whenever you reap your harvest in your field and leave some unraked grain there, you must not return to get it; it should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow so that the Lord your God may bless all the work you do.

20When you beat your olive tree you must not repeat the procedure; the remaining olives belong to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow.

21When you gather the grapes of your vineyard you must not do so a second time; they should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow.

22Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt; therefore, I am commanding you to do all this.

1When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorce, and put it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

2When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

3If the latter husband hates her, and write her a bill of divorce, and puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife;

4her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Yahweh. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.

5When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, neither shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

6No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge; for he takes a life in pledge.

7If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him; then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do.

9Remember what Yahweh your God did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

10When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.

11You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you.

12If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge.

13You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Yahweh your God.

14You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers, or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates.

15In his day you shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor, and sets his heart on it; lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you.

16The 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.

17You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge;

18but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you there. Therefore I command you to do this thing.

19When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

20When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21When you harvest your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

22You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I command you to do this thing.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

God gives laws protecting the vulnerable — divorced women, newlyweds, debtors, workers, foreigners, orphans, and widows — justice with compassion.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch, written at the end of the 40 years of wilderness wandering (approximately 1406 BC). Hebrew title: "Devarim" — "Words/Things." Greek title: "Deuteronomion" — "Second Law" (a repetition/expansion of the Law for the new generation). The book consists of Moses' farewell speeches to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. Moses will not enter with them — these are his final words to the nation he has led for 40 years.
Historical Context: Chapter 24 contains laws that reveal God's heart for the vulnerable and His concern for human dignity. The chapter addresses: (1) divorce and remarriage (vv.1-4), (2) the newlywed exemption (v.5), (3) protection of livelihood (v.6), (4) kidnapping (v.7), (5) leprosy (vv.8-9), (6) dignity in pledges/collateral (vv.10-13), (7) fair wages (vv.14-15), (8) individual responsibility for sin (v.16), (9) justice for the vulnerable (vv.17-18), and (10) gleaning laws (vv.19-22). The divorce law (vv.1-4) is famously discussed by Jesus in Matthew 19:3-9 — He explains that Moses permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts" but that it was not God's original design. The law does not institute divorce but regulates it: requiring a written certificate (protecting the woman's right to remarry) and prohibiting return to a first husband after a second marriage. The gleaning laws (vv.19-22) are among the most beautiful in Scripture: farmers must deliberately leave grain, olives, and grapes for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. This is not charity from surplus but intentional incompleteness in harvest — leaving provision for the poor as a matter of justice, not generosity. The motivation is always the same: "thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt" (vv.18,22). Memory of their own vulnerability should produce compassion for the vulnerable among them.
Divorce and Remarriage (vv.1-4): "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" (v.1). He writes "a bill of divorcement" and sends her away (v.1). She may remarry (v.2). If the second husband also divorces her or dies (v.3), "her former husband... may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled" (v.4). This is "abomination before the LORD" (v.4). The law does not command or approve divorce — it regulates an existing practice. The certificate protects the woman (proof she is free to remarry). The prohibition against returning prevents treating marriage as casual and reversible. Jesus clarifies: this was a concession to hardness of heart, not God's ideal (Matthew 19:8). "Some uncleanness" (Hebrew "ervat davar") was debated by rabbis: Shammai said only sexual immorality; Hillel said any displeasing thing. Jesus sided with Shammai (Matthew 19:9).
The Newlywed Exemption (v.5): "When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business" (v.5). "He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken" (v.5). A full year free from military and public duty — to establish the marriage. God values the marriage relationship above public service. The husband's duty: to "cheer up" / "be happy with" his wife.
Protection of Livelihood (v.6): "No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge" (v.6). The millstone grinds daily bread — taking it as collateral removes the means of survival. "He taketh a man's life to pledge" (v.6). You may not take as collateral what a person needs to live.
Kidnapping (v.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" (v.7). Kidnapping for slavery = death penalty. "Thou shalt put evil away from among you" (v.7). Human beings are not merchandise. This is one of the strongest anti-slavery texts in the Torah.
Leprosy — Remember Miriam (vv.8-9): "Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently" (v.8). Follow the priests' instructions exactly. "Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt" (v.9). Miriam was struck with leprosy for challenging Moses' authority (Numbers 12). The warning: no one is exempt from God's discipline — not even Moses' sister.
Dignity in Pledges (vv.10-13): "When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge" (v.10). Stand outside — let him bring it to you (v.11). Respect his dignity and privacy. "If the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge" (v.12). If his cloak is the pledge, return it by sunset — "that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee" (v.13). "It shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God" (v.13). Compassion in lending is counted as righteousness.
Fair Wages (vv.14-15): "Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy" (v.14) — whether Israelite or foreigner. "At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it" (v.15). Pay wages the same day. Why? "He is poor, and setteth his heart upon it" (v.15) — he depends on it for that day's food. "Lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee" (v.15). Withholding wages from the poor is sin that cries to God.
Individual Responsibility (v.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" (v.16). Personal accountability — no vicarious punishment in human courts. Each person bears responsibility for their own sin.
Justice for the Vulnerable (vv.17-18): "Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge" (v.17). The vulnerable receive special judicial protection. Motivation: "thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing" (v.18). Memory of your own vulnerability produces compassion for others.
Gleaning Laws (vv.19-22): Three harvests, three commands: (1) Grain: "when thou cuttest down thine harvest... and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it" (v.19). Leave it. (2) Olives: "when thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again" (v.20). Leave what remains. (3) Grapes: "when thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward" (v.21). Leave the gleanings. All three: "it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow" (vv.19,20,21). Promise: "that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands" (v.19). Final motivation: "thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing" (v.22).

Map & Geography

  • Moses speaks from the plains of Moab. Laws for compassionate treatment of neighbor, remembering: "thou wast a bondman in Egypt" (v.18, 22).

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes that the divorce law does not institute or approve divorce but regulates it — providing protection for the woman through the written certificate. He notes that the gleaning laws are God's welfare system: not a handout but an opportunity for the poor to work for their food with dignity. Ruth's story is the beautiful illustration of these laws in practice.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "The gleaning laws reveal the heart of God. He does not say 'Give your harvest to the poor' — that would remove their dignity. He says 'Leave something in the field for them to gather.' The poor work for their provision, but the provision is guaranteed by law. This is divine wisdom: generosity that preserves dignity, charity that requires effort, mercy that maintains self-respect. Would that all our charity were so wise!"

Reflection

  • 1. Divorce is regulated, not approved (vv.1-4). God permits divorce as a concession to human hardness of heart (Matthew 19:8) but never celebrates it. The certificate protected the woman; the prohibition against return prevented casual treatment of marriage. God's ideal remains: "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).
  • 2. "He shall be free at home one year" (v.5). God values marriage above public duty. A new marriage needs time, attention, and intentional cultivation. The husband's duty is his wife's happiness. In a culture that prioritizes career over relationship, this law challenges our priorities.
  • 3. "He taketh a man's life to pledge" (v.6). Taking someone's means of survival as collateral is taking their life. This principle applies broadly: any economic arrangement that removes a person's ability to sustain themselves is an assault on their life, not merely their finances.
  • 4. "Every man shall be put to death for his own sin" (v.16). Individual responsibility. You cannot blame your parents for your choices, nor can your children be punished for yours. This is both liberating and sobering: you are responsible for your own life before God.
  • 5. "Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman" (vv.18,22). The motivation for compassion is always memory. You were poor, enslaved, vulnerable — and God rescued you. Now treat others as God treated you. Forgetting our own need produces hardness toward others' need.
  • 6. The gleaning laws (vv.19-22). God's welfare system preserves dignity. The poor are not given handouts but opportunities to work. The farmer leaves provision; the poor person gathers it. This is charity that maintains self-respect — the poor contribute their own labor. Ruth's story (Ruth 2) is the beautiful illustration: she worked hard in Boaz's field, and the law guaranteed her right to be there.