You Shall Purge the Evil from Your Midst: Legal Omissions and Reconstructions of the Illicit Sex Laws in Deuteronomy 22:22–29
In this article, I examine the legal omissions and reconstructions in Deut 22:22-29, focusing on the representative nature of the sex laws and their failure to enumerate all possible crimes and penalties. In a detailed study of the passage's literary structure, I investigate why the text does n...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
The catholic biblical quarterly
Year: 2025, Volume: 87, Issue: 1, Pages: 20-38 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Deuteronomium 22,22-29
/ Law
/ Rape
/ Adultery
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament NCF Sexual ethics XA Law |
| Further subjects: | B
Rape
B legal standard criteria B Adultery B legal omissions and reconstructions B illicit sex laws |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In this article, I examine the legal omissions and reconstructions in Deut 22:22-29, focusing on the representative nature of the sex laws and their failure to enumerate all possible crimes and penalties. In a detailed study of the passage's literary structure, I investigate why the text does not cover every conceivable real-life scenario, particularly in cases of adultery and rape. Key issues explored include the semantics of crucial verbs [inline-graphic 01], [inline-graphic 02], and [inline-graphic 03]), the criteria for distinguishing consensual sex from rape, and comparisons with ancient Near Eastern laws. I propose that Deut 22:22-29 presents representative cases rather than exhaustive legal statutes, requiring readers to infer penalties for unlisted scenarios based on analogous cases within the passage. By providing detailed structural analysis, I aim to enhance understanding of the passage's legal complexities and offer plausible reconstructions for its legal omissions. The insights gained from this analysis contribute to a deeper comprehension of how ancient Israelite law addressed illicit sexual conduct, reflecting broader legal and societal norms. |
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| ISSN: | 2163-2529 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The catholic biblical quarterly
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/cbq.2025.a950615 |
