Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: ki tetze – Go Forth
Torah: Devarim 21:10 – 25:19
74 of the 613 mitzvot are contained in this week’s parasha;
** The following Scriptures are managing a difficult situation that too often occurs during a “war” event. When a young man, hopefully not married, but could be, sees a “beautiful woman” among the captives and thinks that he would like to take her for his wife.
10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and Avinu Elohekah has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive, 11 And see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire to her, that you would have her to your wife; 12 Then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; 13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in your house, and mourn her father and her mother a full month: and after that you shall go in to her, and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. (Devarim 21:10-13)
Here are a few things to consider:
Most men who have reached the age of “eligibility” (age 20 to 40) to go to war are usually married or preparing to be married soon.
The fact that this man has his own house indicates that he was preparing for marriage.
The woman, not an Israeli citizen but an alien, is required to change her clothing, probably into something very modest.
Next, she must shave her head and trim her finger nails.
Finally, she has to mourn her parents for thirty days. This usually includes no bathing.
Let’s get a picture of what this young man is observing for thirty days. A strange woman who probably doesn’t speak his language, with a shaved head with no make up or jewelry, accompanied with a lot of crying etc. This might be designed to help him to see what he is really getting into. However, if thirty days of observing his future wife doesn’t deter him, he is allowed to physically become her husband. This was an unconventional marriage. There was no katuba or chupa. Hopefully, the two parties were still interested in a “marriage” arrangement and the process proceeded.
** Here is the “contingency clause”:
14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she will; but you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her. (Devarim 21:14)
** In the likely event that when the “heat” dies down the couple begins to have second thoughts about the marriage. It can be dissolved by a unilateral decision of the groom. The bride must be treated with dignity and her immediate needs for the separation must be met.
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