John Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 22:16

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, etc.] Not her mother; hence we learn, says Jarchi, that a woman has not power (or is not allowed) to speak before men; that is, in public (see <461434>1 Corinthians 14:34) and it was most proper for a father to appear in court for her, and defend her; and if she had no parents living then, those that brought her up, her guardians, that had the education of her, and placing her out in marriage, were to undertake her cause; or, as Josephus f368 says, those that were next akin to her; or, as, Aben Ezra, one appointed by the court: I gave my daughter unto this man to wife; and, by the Jewish canons f369, a man might give his daughter in marriage, but a woman might not: and he hateth her; has taken a dislike to her, and wants to be rid of her, and therefore has brought this infamous action against her.

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