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:
But if a man finds an engaged woman in the countryside and forces himself on her sexually, then only the man who assaulted her must be put to death.
This verse establishes that a man who sexually assaults an engaged woman deserves the death penalty, while the woman is considered innocent.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land around 1400 BC. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, being engaged was as legally binding as marriage, and sexual assault was considered a serious crime against both the woman and her future husband. The distinction between city and countryside was important because in the field, no one could hear the woman's cries for help.
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