Chapter 24

Marriage Legislation.^{[a] 1 (A)}When a man, after marrying a woman, is later displeased with her because he finds in her something indecent, and he writes out a bill of divorce and hands it to her, thus dismissing her from his house, ² if on leaving his house she goes and becomes the wife of another man, ³ and the second husband, too, comes to dislike her and he writes out a bill of divorce and hands it to her, thus dismissing her from his house, or if this second man who has married her dies, ⁴ then her former husband, who dismissed her, may not again take her as his wife after she has become defiled. That would be an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring such guilt upon the land the Lord, your God, is giving you as a heritage.^(B)

^3 (A)Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him,^[a] saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”

^2 [a]The Pharisees approached and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him.^{(A) 3} He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” ⁴ They replied, “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.”^(B)