This is a convergence of a thought inaugurated by two posts (here and here) in which a commentator said that the Old Testament had timeless truths and that we should look for modern applications to the Text. Then, there is the story of what appears to be a ‘date rape’ of Bristol Palin by Levi Johnston. So, here is the current example:

“If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days. (Deu 22:28-29 NASB)

I tend to think that this implies a forceful seizing, and in reading an Avot, it seems that ancient Jewish commentators did as well.

Now, what are the ‘timeless applications’ for today?

I am not liberal enough to twist Scripture to fit today, which is the way it seems to me that we must do in order to find ‘timeless truths’ or to ‘reconcile’ Scripture to today. Scripture is. That’s it.

But, what if is it note – then we have the woman as property (actually, in both cases we do, making this a case of damaged property with the money owed to the father) with still no choice in the marriage. Maybe this is Traditional marriage?