Deuteronomy 21:10-14 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Another regulation (only here) pertaining to war (see ch. 20, which it should perhaps immediately follow). It is another example of D's humanitarianism (Deuteronomy 15:12-18 *). The relief claimed for the captive woman could not apply to a Canaanitish woman, as no Israelite was allowed to marry such a woman (Deuteronomy 7:3); besides, when conquered, the entire Canaanite foe (including women and children), was to be utterly destroyed (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).

Deuteronomy 21:12. Shaving the head (Deuteronomy 14:1 *) and paring the nails are acts of mourning (p. 110) as among the Arabs (see Lane, Arab Lex. 2409 4; Wellhausen, Reste 2, p. 156; W. R. Smith, Kinship 1, p. 178, Kinship 2, p. 209; OTJC 2, p. 368; RS 2, 428, n. 3; Bertholet, p. 66. The woman in the present case mourns her parents as if they were dead.

Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 21:10

Deuteronomy 21:10-14

10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,

11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pareb her nails;

13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.

14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.