An atheist on Youtube argued and misquoted Deuteronomy 22:28-29 as meaning that God does not punish the rapist, but in a sense approves of the rape by having the victim marry the rapist. He wrote:
"And God's remedy for rape is to punish the rapist by making him marry the woman he rapes if she is unmarried, but woe unto the man who rapes a married woman, as he has now committed a much worse offense as he has devalued the husband's property.
END RESULT: The bible is AWFUL.
Here is the english text of Deuteronomy 22 ;28-29
If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."
First, What "english text of Deuteronomy 22:28-29" are you quoting from?
Second, Here is one English translation of Deuteronomy 22:28 that
says, "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married
and "rapes her" and they are discovered," (NIV). The word
"rape" is not a good translation here.The KJV says "lay hold on
her," and the NASB, ESV states, "seizes her," No doubt, the
phrases from these other translations appear to be strong as well, but they do
not say rape. However, three points can be drawn from the passage in question:
(1.) In light of the context of the other examples given in
Deuteronomy 22, if it were in fact rape, she would have "cried out,"
like the woman in verses 23-24, 27 did. The truth is, she did not. There is no
indication presented in verses 28-29 of the woman being in any kind of
distress.
(2.) Instead, we read these words, "they are
discovered." This indicates the woman had consented. Now whether they were
caught having sex, or they both confessed their sin of sexual intercourse, or
was found to be pregnant. Whatever the case be, their sex affair was found out.
(3.) Hence, according to verse 29 the man is required to pay
a fee to the girl's father, and if the father gives his daughter to him to
marry, he cannot divorce her for the rest of his days. This may not sound like
punishment, but if the father gives his daughter to him to marry, he is stuck
with her for the rest of his life. So his careless fling with this woman would
be costly. Especially if he doesn't want to marry her. The fact is, in ancient
times a woman's virginity was highly prized. If a young woman lost her
virginity, even on the account of rape, it would be very difficult for her to
find a man to marry her. Without a husband to care for her, it would be very
difficult for her to earn a living. Usually such women would either prostitute
themselves or sell themselves as slaves in order to survive.
Third, Deuteronomy 22:25 reads as follows: "But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die." (NASB). Now the example in verse 25 is rape. For we read the phrase "forces her" which indicates an actual rape took place. Verse 27 states when she was in the field where the man raped her, there was no one around to save her, when she cried out for help. Again, verse 25 states that the rapist is to be put to death. Here we see the crime of rape is punishable by death.
These verses completely refutes the atheist and skeptic's accusation that the Bible is immoral in allowing the rapist to get away with the crime, and instead is required to marry the victim as a form of punishment as noted in Deuteronomy 22:28-29. The "Context" is the key here in understanding the passage in question. This is something atheists need to understand before making such foolish assumptions and accusations about the Bible they don't have a clue about.
Commentator John Gill gives this insight on the passage in question, Deuteronomy 22:28. He writes:
"If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed,.... That is, meets with one in a field, which is not espoused to a man; and the man is supposed to be an unmarried man, as appears by what follows: and lay hold on her, and lie with her, she yielding to it, and so is not expressive of a rape, as Deuteronomy 22:25 where a different word from this is there used; which signifies taking strong hold of her, and ravishing her by force; yet this, though owing to his first violent seizure of her, and so different from what was obtained by enticing words, professions of love, and promises of marriage, and the like, as in Exodus 22:16 but not without her consent: and they be found; in the field together, and in the fact; or however there are witnesses of it, or they themselves have confessed, it, and perhaps betrayed by her pregnancy." (see Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible).
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