Can you explain Leviticus 19:20 more?
Question:
Does Leviticus 19:20 imply that if the slave woman was not betrothed, it was not a sin to sleep with her? What punishment would it have been? Is the primary sin harm of the owner's property or sexual sin in itself? Why is no monetary compensation paid, unlike Deuteronomy 22?
Thank you!
Answer:
"Now if a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave acquired for another man, but who has in no way been redeemed nor given her freedom, there shall be punishment; they shall not, however, be put to death, because she was not free. He shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD to the doorway of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. The priest shall also make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for his sin which he has committed, and the sin which he has committed will be forgiven him" (Leviticus 19:20-22).
The situation involves a man having sex with a slave belonging to another person. In other words, she is a slave who has been married to another man (a concubine) or has been slated to be married by another man. Normally, having sex with a married woman or a betrothed woman carries the death penalty for both the man and the woman (Deuteronomy 22:22-24). However, it is recognized that because she is a slave, she was in a difficult situation. The man can't be forced to marry the slave woman because she belongs to another man (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
The law does require a punishment of both the man and the woman, though not the death penalty. There is an implication that the punishment comes after an investigation, so the punishment would be set by a judge. The punishment is not stated, but some think it was scourging.
Even though a physical punishment is given, the man is still guilty of sin. He is required to bring a special offering of a ram. The priest is to use the ram as a guilt offering to atone for the man's sin. This offering is to God, not the owner of the slave.
The money in Deuteronomy 22:28-29 was for the violated woman's dowry, not in compensation for the crime. The man was expected to marry the woman, though the woman's father had the right to prevent the marriage; the dowry had to be paid regardless. In the case of the slave woman, there is no family to pay the dowry to.
