Reasons Why Harassment of a Woman,
and Rape of a Married Woman Should Be Avenged by the State
Concerning sexual fantasy or lust, there is a critical circumstantial difference between lusting upon a married woman and actually having sex with her because the former does not have a joint physical repercussion as the latter. Repentance and confession may alleviate the former.
However, when illicit sex with a married woman occurs, the situation is much more severe. The chastity of the woman is destroyed and therefore her marriage relationship is destroyed. When rape of a married woman occurs, the husband is reminded to keep the cleanliness law even as referred to in Dt. 24.4 and would be compelled to put away his innocent and victimized wife. The previous marriage and family relationship of the woman has been destroyed and can not be repaired. Children suffer due to this.
According to the Old Testament, when rape of a virgin occurs, she is required to marry1 the rapist. This may be considered a great loss to the victim. On the other hand, the father has the authority2 to finalize the decision as to marriage according to particular circumstances of seduction.
However, violations involving fornication merely give reason for divorce and suffering. From a more profound point of view, if men did not harass or attempt to entice a woman, many cases of immorality would never occur. Many poor or even pitiful but acceptable homes would not be broken. Many young children would not have to grow up in havoc, poverty and family disgrace. Therefore, even the lesser offenses such as harassment should also be severely avenged by the state.
Years ago, many state laws in the USA were much more vengeful on offenders, especially the more destructive such as adulterers and rapists. Illicit sex called for the death penalty3 in the Old Testament. Chastity and enforcement of community protection against unchastity is not only a personal requirement of Biblical leadership; it was, and still is a family and community need!
Scripture references:
1 Dt.22:28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
2 Ex. 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
3 Dt. 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
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More on vengeance of harassment and immorality:
Profound precepts and concepts
Legislative Proposal to Enforce Chastity
Help us make "correctional institutions", not crime proliferation institutions
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