Deuteronomy 22:14-15

22:14 accusing her of impropriety ¹  and defaming her reputation ²  by saying, “I married this woman but when I had sexual relations ³  with her I discovered she was not a virgin!” 22:15 Then the father and mother of the young woman must produce the evidence of virginity ⁴  for the elders of the city at the gate.

Deuteronomy 22:17

22:17 Moreover, he has raised accusations of impropriety by saying, ‘I discovered your daughter was not a virgin,’ but this is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity!” The cloth must then be spread out ⁵  before the city’s elders.

Deuteronomy 22:20

22:20 But if the accusation is true and the young woman was not a virgin,

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¹ tn Heb “deeds of things”; NRSV “makes up charges against her”; NIV “slanders her.”

² tn Heb “brings against her a bad name”; NIV “gives her a bad name.”

³ tn Heb “drew near to her.” This is another Hebrew euphemism for having sexual relations.

⁴ sn In light of v. 17 this would evidently be blood-stained sheets indicative of the first instance of intercourse. See E. H. Merrill, Deuteronomy (NAC), 302-3.

⁵ tn Heb “they will spread the garment.”