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 neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.
Then you must bring both of them to the city gate and stone them to death—the young woman because she didn't cry out for help while in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. This is how you must remove evil from your community.
This verse describes an ancient law requiring severe punishment for adultery when both parties were considered willing participants.
📚 Historical Context
This passage is part of Moses' legal code given to Israel around 1400 BC, addressing various civil and moral laws for their society. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, adultery was considered a serious crime that threatened family structure and community stability. The assumption was that in a city, if a woman didn't cry out, she was a willing participant rather than a victim.
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