Sex with a Betrothed Slave

Sex and Betrothal Cases

Leviticus 19:20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

My post: “It depends on how severe the mistake was! If a girl was seduced (penetrated) previously, her dating days are actually over as long as her first man (who penetrated her) is still alive. She would have no biblical right to offer herself as an unchaste date (potential mate) to another man. It would be an attempt of folly to even date someone, leading the guy on that she is chaste (Dt.22:21). God expects the virtue of chastity to be kept among the people of God. See my sermon 'Illusion'.”

Second post: “It is actually the father's decision (or guardian), not the girl's decision to decide whom she will marry (have sex). The endowment law (Ex. 22:16) helps us understand the violation of chastity commandment of Dt. 22:21. The father is expected to have a trust relationship (faith in her obedience) with his daughter. He expects her to remain a virgin and if she doesn't, she is to notify him so that he may collect his endowment and choose whether to give her away in marriage or to keep her single.”