Laws of Social Responsibility
A man who seduces an unbetrothed virgin must bear the marriage payment, whether or not the marriage itself takes place. The act creates an obligation he cannot avoid by the father's refusal.
I16f a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
Practices that violate Israel's covenant boundaries are named without compromise: sorcery, intercourse with an animal, and sacrifice to other gods. Each is treated as a direct offense against the order and loyalty the LORD claims.
18You must not allow a sorceress to live. 19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death. 20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Foreign residents, widows, and orphans are not to be oppressed or mistreated. If they cry out under such harm, the LORD Himself hears and answers with judgment against those who injure them.
21You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. 23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. 24My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
Lending to the poor must not become exploitation, and even pledged collateral must be returned when it is needed for basic covering. The law keeps necessity in view because the LORD hears the cry of the poor and is compassionate.
25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest. 26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, 27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Israel must honor God and its ruler, give the first yield and firstborn to the LORD, and live as a holy people even in what they eat. Reverence, offering, and ordinary conduct are bound together under covenant belonging.
28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. 29You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons. 30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me. 31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.[’’]