Deuteronomy 24:5

(7) BRIDEGROOM EXEMPT FROM WARFARE (Deuteronomy 24:5)

5 When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 24:5

410.

Was there any advantage for the government in the above regulation?

411.

How shall we compare this rule with the provision for divorce?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 24:5

5 When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife who he has taken.

COMMENT 24:5

See also Deuteronomy 20:7, notes. As Matthew Henry remarks, this law would promote love and tend to establish the bond between this couple, and stands somewhat in contrast to the former law allowing divorce. He was neither to go to war, or be charged with business (Heb. dabar), literally word, thing; here, business, affair, or restricting labor of any kind. All this enabled him to cheer his wifeEnjoy the wife he has married, (Benton), to give happiness to the woman he has married (Torah). As we are repeatedly seeing in this book, the feminine half of the marriage had privileges and blessings which represent only a foretaste of what was to come under Christ.