Question on Deuteronomy 22:28,29

[oldzimm]

I was just doing some reading in the Bible and a question came to mind when reading these two verses.

Deuteronomy 22:28,29

28 If a man 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 the girls father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

Now the question I have is could rape really mean when the man and woman both consent to premarital sex? I can't imagine a woman being forced to marry a man who has raped her, that would be a life long punishment.

What are your thoughts?

[Fez]

It's an interesting question, and depends on the definition of rape in this context. We all know rape in the modern context is an abomination. But could the definition of this scripture mean premarital sex I wonder?

But Strong's seems to indicate rape as we know it.

תּפשׂ

tâphaś

taw-fas'

A primitive root; to manipulate, that is, seize; chiefly to capture, wield; specifically to overlay; figuratively to use unwarrantably: - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, X surely, surprise, take.

Could this be because of the patriarchal society the scripture applies to, in terms of women being thought of as property? That the punishment, as we now demand, did not fit the "crime" in the days of Moses?

[other one]

Most of the translations say "seized her and lays with her...."

OT:8610

taphas (taw-fas'); a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably:

KJV - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, surely, surprise, take.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright

[OneLight]

The interlinear says "take hold of her". I agree with other one where the root word is Strong's H8610 - taphas.

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield

.....a) (Qal)

..........1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch

..........2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully

.....b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured

.....c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

This does not sound like being willing.

[Hunterpoet]

Punishment indeed...having to care for( under scrutiny ) a women you dishonored and took advantage of, for the rest of your life.....Talk about a life time of suffering for a moments pleasure.

Sounds like a great deterrent to me.

[oldzimm]

Punishment indeed...having to care for( under scrutiny ) a women you dishonored and took advantage of, for the rest of your life.....Talk about a life time of suffering for a moments pleasure.

Sounds like a great deterrent to me.

It could be a punishment for the man or it could not be, pending on how the man feels about the woman. It is surely a life long punishment for the woman regardless.

Personally I think the best punishment for a rapist is castration, wonder they didn't think of that back then since it seems physical pain for punishment seem to be the rule in those days.

[Hunterpoet]

Punishment indeed...having to care for( under scrutiny ) a women you dishonored and took advantage of, for the rest of your life.....Talk about a life time of suffering for a moments pleasure.

Sounds like a great deterrent to me.

It could be a punishment for the man or it could not be, pending on how the man feels about the woman. It is surely a life long punishment for the woman regardless.

Personally I think the best punishment for a rapist is castration, wonder they didn't think of that back then since it seems physical pain for punishment seem to be the rule in those days.

maybe not so much a punishment for the women as you might think......I know for sure I would not relish having to be at the mercy of such a women....these were relatively small tight knit communities.....the women in question could make the guys life a living hell...and as I said a deterrent....you would be schooled on this as you were growing up.....castration could very well be a blessing in disguise were it offered.

[Leonard]

Back in those days, unless of course it was a very violent rape, it would simply not have been considered a lifetime of torment for the woman to be married to the man who seduced her. A case of violent rape was handled differently, and I think you ought to look at other translations of the Bible on this passage.

Although a woman was considered 'property' she was NOT 'chattel property,' but entitled to specific legal rights. She could not be taken with impugnity. The task of caring for her for life, then fell to the man. It was to discourage rape this was enacted.