Chapter commentary
Deuteronomy Chapter 24
1
Deuteronomy 24:1
简体中文
English original
In this and the next chapter certain particular rights and duties, domestic, social, and civil, are treated. The cases brought forward have often no definite connection, and seem selected in order to illustrate the application of the great principles of the Law in certain important events and circumstances.
These four verses contain only one sentence, and should be rendered thus: If a man hath taken a wife, etc., and given her a bill of divorcement and Deuteronomy 24:2 if she has departed out of his house and become another man's wife; and Deuteronomy 24:3 if the latter husband hates her, then Deuteronomy 24:4 her former husband, etc.
Moses neither institutes nor enjoins divorce. The exact spirit of the passage is given in our Lord's words to the Jews', "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives" Matthew 19:8. Not only does the original institution of marriage as recorded by Moses Genesis 2:24 set forth the perpetuity of the bond, but the verses before us plainly intimate that divorce, while tolerated for the time, contravenes the order of nature and of God. The divorced woman who marries again is "defiled" Deuteronomy 24:4, and is grouped in this particular with the adulteress (compare Leviticus 18:20). Our Lord then was speaking according to the spirit of the law of Moses when he declared, "Whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" Matthew 19:9. He was speaking too not less according to the mind of the prophets (compare Malachi 2:14-16). But Moses could not absolutely put an end to a practice which was traditional, and common to the Jews with other Oriental nations. His aim is therefore to regulate and thus to mitigate an evil which he could not extirpate.
6
Deuteronomy 24:6
简体中文
参较 Exodus 22:25-26。
English original
Compare Exodus 22:25-26.
7
Deuteronomy 24:7
简体中文
参较 Deuteronomy 21:14 及 Exodus 21:16。
English original
Compare Deuteronomy 21:14; and Exodus 21:16.
10
Deuteronomy 24:10
简体中文
参较 Exodus 22:25-27。
English original
Compare Exodus 22:25-27.
13
Deuteronomy 24:13
简体中文
就是你的义了 - 参较 Deuteronomy 6:25 注释。
English original
Righteousness unto thee - Compare Deuteronomy 6:25 note.
16
Deuteronomy 24:16
简体中文
这是对世间审判官的告诫。在其他东方民族中，罪犯的家属常被连坐同受刑罚（参较 Esther 9:13-14）。在以色列却不可如此；参较旁注参考经文。
English original
A caution addressed to earthly judges. Among other Oriental nations the family of a criminal was commonly involved in his punishment (compare Esther 9:13-14). In Israel it was not to be so; compare marginal references.
17
Deuteronomy 24:17
简体中文
参较旁注参考经文。这些各样体恤之举所依据的动机，都是同一个（Deuteronomy 24:18、Deuteronomy 24:22）。
English original
Compare the marginal references. The motive assigned for these various acts of consideration is one and the same Deuteronomy 24:18, Deuteronomy 24:22.
本章与下一章论述家庭、社会和民事方面若干具体的权利与义务。所举的案例往往彼此没有确定的关联，似乎是为了说明律法的重大原则在某些重要事件与境况中如何应用而挑选出来的。
这四节经文原文只是一句话，应如此翻译：人若娶了妻，等等，给了她休书，而 Deuteronomy 24:2 她离开他家作了别人的妻子，又 Deuteronomy 24:3 后夫恨恶她，那么 Deuteronomy 24:4 她的前夫……。
摩西既没有设立离婚，也没有命令离婚。这段经文的确切精神已见于我们主对犹太人所说的话：“摩西因为你们的心硬，许你们休妻”（Matthew 19:8）。不仅摩西所记婚姻的原始制度（Genesis 2:24）表明这结合的永恒性，我们面前的这些经文也清楚地暗示，离婚虽一时被容忍，却违背自然与神的秩序。再嫁的被休之妇人是“被玷污”的（Deuteronomy 24:4），在这点上与犯奸淫的妇人同列（参利未记 18:20）。因此，我们主宣告“人若娶那被休的妇人，也是犯奸淫了”（Matthew 19:9）时，正是按摩西律法的精神说话。他说话也完全合乎众先知的心意（参 Malachi 2:14-16）。但摩西无法彻底废除一种传统的、犹太人与其他东方民族共有的习俗。因此，他的目标是对一种无法根除的恶加以规范，从而予以缓解。