241 'When a man doth take a wife, and hath married her, and it hath been, if she doth not find grace in his eyes (for he hath found in her nakedness of anything), and he hath written for her a writing of divorce, and given 'it' into her hand, and sent her out of his house, 2 and she hath gone out of his house, and hath gone and been another man's, 3 and the latter man hath hated her, and written for her a writing of divorce, and given 'it' into her hand, and sent her out of his house, or when the latter man dieth, who hath taken her to himself for a wife: 4 'Her former husband who sent her away is not able to turn back to take her to be to him for a wife, after that she hath become defiled; for an abomination it 'is' before Jehovah, and thou dost not cause the land to sin which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee—an inheritance.
5 'When a man taketh a new wife, he doth not go out into the host, and 'one' doth not pass over unto him for anything; free he is at his own house one year, and hath rejoiced his wife whom he hath taken.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 24:1-5
Commentary on Deuteronomy 24:1-4
(Read Deuteronomy 24:1-4)
Where the providence of God, or his own wrong choice in marriage, has allotted to a Christian a trial instead of a help meet; he will from his heart prefer bearing the cross, to such relief as tends to sin, confusion, and misery. Divine grace will sanctify this cross, support under it, and teach so to behave, as will gradually render it more tolerable.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 24:5-13
(Read Deuteronomy 24:5-13)
It is of great consequence that love be kept up between husband and wife; that they carefully avoid every thing which might make them strange one to another. Man-stealing was a capital crime, which could not be settled, as other thefts, by restitution. The laws concerning leprosy must be carefully observed. Thus all who feel their consciences under guilt and wrath, must not cover it, or endeavour to shake off their convictions; but by repentance, and prayer, and humble confession, take the way to peace and pardon. Some orders are given about pledges for money lent. This teaches us to consult the comfort and subsistence of others, as much as our own advantage. Let the poor debtor sleep in his own raiment, and praise God for thy kindness to him. Poor debtors ought to feel more than commonly they do, the goodness of creditors who do not take all the advantage of the law against them, nor should this ever be looked upon as weakness.