Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 22:20
But if this thing be true, [and the tokens of] virginity be not found for the damsel:
20. But if this charge be true, etc.] If the physical signs were alone relied on a miscarriage of justice was possible. Other evidence, however, may have been forthcoming. Indeed it is possible that the clause, the tokens, etc., is not original.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But if this thing be true,…. Which the husband of the damsel laid to her charge, that she was no virgin when married to him, and she had committed whoredom, of which there was plain proof:
and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel; by her parents, or those who had the care of her; or no sufficient reason could be assigned for the want of them, through any family defect, or any disorder of her own; which, as Maimonides z says, the judges were to inquire into.
z Hilchot Ishot, c. 11. sect. 12.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In the other case, however, if the man’s words were true, and the girl had not been found to be a virgin, the elders were to bring her out before the door of her father’s house, and the men of the town were to stone her to death, because she had committed a folly in Israel (cf. Gen 34:7), to commit fornication in her father’s house. The punishment of death was to be inflicted upon her, not so much because she had committed fornication, as because notwithstanding this she had allowed a man to marry her as a spotless virgin, and possibly even after her betrothal had gone with another man (cf. Deu 22:23, Deu 22:24). There is no ground for thinking of unnatural wantonness, as Knobel does.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
20. But if this thing be true. If the punishment should seem to anybody to be somewhat too severe, let him reflect that no kind of fraud is more intolerable. A false sale of a field or a house shall be accounted a crime, as also the utterance of false money; and, therefore, she who abuses the sacred name of marriage for deception, and offers an unchaste body instead of a chaste one, much less deserves to be pardoned. The cause of severity, however, which is expressly mentioned, is much more extensive, i e. , because she hath wrought wickedness, or filthiness in Israel. The translation which some. give, folly, is poor; for although the word. is derived from נבל, nabal, it still means something more atrocious than folly; just as Simeon and Levi, in excuse for their slaughter of the Shechemites, call the defilement of their sister (83) נבלה, nebalah, that is, filthiness in Israel. ( Gen 34:7.) Whence it appears once more how greatly acceptable to God is chastity.
(83) “Folly, that which is contrary to sound reason, wickedness.” — Simon’s Heb. Lex. — W. Taylor, in his Concordance, says, “Folly, rather vice: , villany, or what can be supposed in bad morals to be answerable to sapless, withered flowers, leaves, or fruit. Gen 34:7; Jos 7:15; Jud 19:23.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Deu 22:20 But if this thing be true, [and the tokens of] virginity be not found for the damsel:
Ver. 20. And the tokens. ] Nor any natural impediment can be proved, as the Hebrews explain it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 22:20-21
20But if this charge is true, that the girl was not found a virgin, 21then they shall bring out the girl to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father’s house; thus you shall purge the evil from among you.
Deu 22:20-21 Normally, stoning was done outside the gate of the city. See Special Topic: THE DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL . Because of the Hebrew concept of corporality, the father was responsible for his daughter’s actions and, therefore, the punishment occurred at his door!
The penalty for a false witness was usually death. A clear double standard is seen here where, if the husband’s accusation is true the girl is stoned, but if it is false (even malicious) he is chastened and fined, but not stoned (cf. Deu 19:19). Women did not have the same legal rights and protection as males in the OT. Compassion is shown, but not rights!
Deu 22:21 an act of folly This term (BDB 615) is used of inappropriate sexual activity:
1. Gen 34:7 (non-Israelite forces himself on Jacob’s daughter)
2. Deu 22:21 (loss of virginity)
3. Jdg 19:23; Jdg 20:6; Jdg 20:10 (pagans attack a Levite’s concubine)
4. 2Sa 13:12-13 (Amnon, David’s first son, rapes his half-sister)
playing the harlot This term is the Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT of a term (BDB 275, KB 275), which denoted inappropriate sexual activity involving fornication (sex before marriage), adultery (sex after marriage with someone other then your spouse), and prostitution (sex for hire).