Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 19:20

20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her, she shall be scourged : they shall not be put to death , because she was not [illegible: 1+ letters]ree :

Or, reproached or despised, and therefore forsaken, of her husband. For as his continuance with her in his and her masters family and service is mentioned as an evidence that he loved her, Exod. 21. 5, 6. So on the contrary his forsaking of her was a reproach to her and a sign of contempt.

Heb. There shall be a scourging, which may belong, either 1. To her alone, as the Jews understand it, for the mans punishment follows, ver. 21, 22. Or, 2. To both of them, for 1. Both were guilty. 2. It follows, they shall not be punished with death, which may seem to imply that they were to be punished by some other common and considerable punishment, which scourging indeed was, but the paying of a ram was a small penalty and very unsuitable to the greatness of the offence. And the offering of the ram as a trespass-offering for the sin against God is not inconsistent with making satisfaction other wayes for the injury done to men, as we may see Livit. 6. 4, 5, 6. but onely added here as a further punishment to the man, either because he onely could do this, and not the Woman, who being a bondwoman had nothing of her own to offer: Or because his Sex and his freedom aggravated his sin.

Which they should have been, had she been free, Deut. 22. 23, 24.

The reason of this difference is not from any respect which God leaves to persons, for bond and free are alike to him, but because bondwomen were scarce Wives, and their Marriages were scarce true marriages, being neither made by their choice, but by their masters authority, nor continued beyond the year of release, but at her Masters or Husbands pleasure: Of which see Exod. 21. 4, &c.

Marginal references: Or, abused by a[illegible: 1+ letters]y.; Heb. reproachedly, or, for man.; Or. th[illegible: 1+ letters].; Heb. there shall be a [illegible: 1 word].