Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 22:17
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
17. If, however, the father will not give her in marriage to her seducer, he must still pay him the usual marriage-price that would be expected for a daughter. In Deu 22:28 the penalty for rape Isaiah 50 shekels of silver (about 7]), not quite twice the ordinary price of a slave (Exo 21:32).
Exo 22:18 to Exo 23:19 . A collection of miscellaneous moral, religious, and ceremonial commands, not very systematically arranged. They correspond to the ‘words’ of Exo 24:3 (see on Exo 21:1): with few exceptions, all are introduced by Thou shalt: even where the opening word is If, thou shalt generally follows (Exo 22:25-26, Exo 23:4-5). The moral commands are prompted chiefly by motives of philanthropy and equity: the religious and ceremonial ones are comprised in Exo 22:20; Exo 22:28-31, Exo 23:10-19 (cf. Exo 20:23-26). It is probable that in parts the original laws have had parenetic additions made to them by the compiler.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This shows the necessity of parents consent in marriage.
According to the dowry of virgins, i.e. in such proportion as the virgins quality requires; for there was no certain and equal dowry appointed for all women. See Poole on 1Sa 18:25.
Quest. Why is there no punishment for the woman?
Answ. 1. She had no distinct estate, being yet in her fathers house.
2. The loss of her virginity was a sufficient punishment, especially in Israel, where it was a great reproach and prejudice.
3. She was not so culpable as the man, both because she was of the weaker sex, and because she was drawn to the sin by the mans persuasion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him,…. For wife, either because of his character, family, or circumstances; or, however, being disagreeable to him on one account or another, and therefore will by no means agree to marry his daughter to him, and not only give him an absolute denial, but resolutely persist in it: the Targum of Jonathan has it,
“if it seems not good to him;”
if he do not like nor choose to marry her; and some add also, if she herself do not approve of marrying him:
he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins; as virgins on marriage have usually given them, according to their rank and dignity: here is no sum fixed, but the Targum of Jonathan is,
“he shall be mulcted in fifty shekels of silver,”
which is taken from De 22:29 though that seems to be not altogether a like case with this; for though it respects a virgin not betrothed, as here, yet one that has been forced, and therefore the man was obliged to marry her, and never put her away; and the mulct or fine was to be paid to the damsel’s father and not to her: the Septuagint version here says, it was to be paid to the father.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) He shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.It is not stated what the amount was to be in this case; but probably it was more than in the other.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 34:12 ; Deu 22:29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 22:17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
Ver. 17. He shall pay. ] No fine is laid upon her, because she had nothing of her own; and she had lost her honour in losing her virginity. 1Th 4:4 See Trapp on “ 1Th 4:4 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dowry = 50 shekels. Deu 22:29. See App-51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
utterly: Deu 7:3, Deu 7:4
pay: Heb. weigh, Gen 23:16
dowry of virgins: Gen 34:12, Deu 22:29, 1Sa 18:25
Reciprocal: Gen 29:18 – I will serve Exo 21:9 – betrothed her unto Deu 22:28 – General Hos 3:2 – I bought
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 22:17. If the father refuse, he shall pay money This shows how ill a thing it is, and by no means to be allowed, that children should marry without their parents consent: even here, where the divine law appointed the marriage, both as a punishment to him that had done wrong, and a recompense to her that had suffered wrong, yet there was an express reservation for the fathers power; if he denied his consent, it must be no marriage.