In Deuteronomy 22:28-29, the punishment for rape is that the man has to pay 50 pieces of silver to the father of the victim and then marry her, without being able to ever divorce her. This seems like a rather unjust punishment. It seems that the only loser in the situation is the woman. Could you please clarify this for me? -- Alfredo Cruz (Puerto Rico)
Consider first the very high premium placed on virginity. The woman has been violated, and her chances for a good marriage (to another) are forever shattered. By dint of the regulation of Deuteronomy 22, she is guaranteed a home, and prevented from being wronged a second time by being discarded. (Compare the unfair treatment Tamar received from Amnon in 2 Samuel 13.)
As for the man, while he may have technically deserved more punishment than a fine (the fifty pieces), he is at least forced to take responsibility for his actions. If he had been, say, exiled or executed, the woman would have been left alone and almost certainly unmarriageable. So rather than the prescription of the Law being unfair punishment, the wisdom of God's law comes into focus. I hope this resolves the issue for you.
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