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into the constitution。 Nor do the laws neglect small matters； but
provide that even those may be managed after an unblamable
manner。
21。 Let not those that reap； and gather in the corn that is
reaped； gather in the gleanings also； but let them rather leave
some handfuls for those that are in want of the necessaries of
life； that it may be a support and a supply to them； in order to
their subsistence。 In like manner when they gather their grapes；
let them leave some smaller bunches for the poor； and let them
pass over some of the fruits of the olive…trees； when they gather
them； and leave them to be partaken of by those that have none of
their own； for the advantage arising from the exact collection of
all； will not be so considerable to the owners as will arise from
the gratitude of the poor。 And God will provide that the land
shall more willingly produce what shall be for the nourishment of
its fruits； in case you do not merely take care of your own
advantage； but have regard to the support of others also。 Nor are
you to muzzle the mouths of the oxen when they tread the ears of
corn in the thrashing…floor； for it is not just to restrain our
fellow…laboring animals； and those that work in order to its
production； of this fruit of their labors。 Nor are you to
prohibit those that pass by at the time when your fruits are ripe
to touch them； but to give them leave to fill themselves full of
what you have； and this whether they be of your own country or
strangers； … as being glad of the opportunity of giving them some
part of your fruits when they are ripe； but let it not be
esteemed lawful for them to carry any away。 Nor let those that
gather the grapes； and carry them to the wine…presses； restrain
those whom they meet from eating of them； for it is unjust； out
of envy； to hinder those that desire it； to partake of the good
things that come into the world according to God's will； and this
while the season is at the height； and is hastening away as it
pleases God。 Nay； if some； out of bashfulness； are unwilling to
touch these fruits； let them be encouraged to take of them （I
mean； those that are Israelites） as if they were themselves the
owners and lords； on account of the kindred there is between
them。 Nay； let them desire men that come from other countries； to
partake of these tokens of friendship which God has given in
their proper season； for that is not to be deemed as idly spent；
which any one out of kindness communicates to another； since God
bestows plenty of good things on men； not only for themselves to
reap the advantage； but also to give to others in a way of
generosity； and he is desirous； by this means； to make known to
others his peculiar kindness to the people of Israel； and how
freely he communicates happiness to them； while they abundantly
communicate out of their great superfluities to even these
foreigners also。 But for him that acts contrary to this law； let
him be beaten with forty stripes save one （22） by the public
executioner； let him undergo this punishment； which is a most
ignominious one for a free…man； and this because he was such a
slave to gain as to lay a blot upon his dignity； for it is proper
for you who have had the experience of the afflictions in Egypt；
and of those in the wilderness； to make provision for those that
are in the like circumstances； and while you have now obtained
plenty yourselves； through the mercy and providence of God； to
distribute of the same plenty； by the like sympathy； to such as
stand in need of it。
22。 Besides those two tithes； which I have already said you are
to pay every year； the one for the Levites； the other for the
festivals； you are to bring every third year a third tithe to be
distributed to those that want； （23） to women also that are
widows； and to children that are orphans。 But as to the ripe
fruits； let them carry that which is ripe first of all into the
temple； and when they have blessed God for that land which bare
them； and which he had given them for a possession； when they
have also offered those sacrifices which the law has commanded
them to bring； let them give the first…fruits to the priests。 But
when any one hath done this； and hath brought the tithe of all
that he hath； together with those first…fruits that are for the
Levites； and for the festivals； and when he is about to go home；
let him stand before the holy house； and return thanks to God；
that he hath delivered them from the injurious treatment they had
in Egypt； and hath given them a good land； and a large； and lets
them enjoy the fruits thereof； and when he hath openly testified
that he hath fully paid the tithes ＇and other dues＇ according to
the laws of Moses； let him entreat God that he will be ever
merciful and gracious to him； and continue so to be to all the
Hebrews； both by preserving the good things which he hath already
given them； and by adding what it is still in his power to bestow
upon them。
23。 Let the Hebrews marry； at the age fit for it； virgins that
are free； and born of good parents。 And he that does not marry a
virgin； let him not corrupt another man's wife； and marry her；
nor grieve her former husband。 Nor let free men marry slaves；
although their affections should strongly bias any of them so to
do； for it is decent； and for the dignity of the persons
themselves； to govern those their affections。 And further； no one
ought to marry a harlot； whose matrimonial oblations； arising
from the prostitution of her body； God will not receive； for by
these means the dispositions of the children will be liberal and
virtuous； I mean； when they are not born of base parents； and of
the lustful conjunction of such as marry women that are not free。
If any one has been espoused to a woman as to a virgin； and does
not afterward find her so to be； let him bring his action； and
accuse her； and let him make use of such indications （24） to
prove his accusation as he is furnished withal； and let the
father or the brother of the damsel； or some one that is after
them nearest of kin to her； defend her If the damsel obtain a
sentence in her favor； that she had not been guilty； let her live
with her husband that accused her； and let him not have any
further power at all to put her away； unless she give him very
great occasions of suspicion； and such as can be no way
contradicted。 But for him that brings an accusation and calumny
against his wife in an impudent and rash manner； let him be
punished by receiving forty stripes save one； and let him pay
fifty shekels to her father： but if the damsel be convicted； as
having been corrupted； and is one of the common people； let her
be stoned； because she did not preserve her virginity till she
were lawfully married； but if she were the daughter of a priest；
let her be burnt alive。 If any one has two wives； and if he
greatly respect and be kind to one of them； either out of his
affection to her； or for her beauty； or for some other reason；
while the other is of less esteem with him； and if the son of her
that is beloved be the younger by birth than another born of the
other wife； but endeavors to obtain the right of primogeniture
from his father's kindness to his mother； and would thereby
obtain a double portion of his father's substance； for that
double portion is what I have allotted him in the laws； … let not
this be permitted； for it is unjust that he who is the elder by
birth should be deprived of what is due to him； on the father's
disposition of his estate； because his mother was not equally
regarded by him。 He that hath corrupted a damsel espoused to
another man； in case he had her consent； let both him and her be
put to death； for they are both equally guilty； the man； because
he persuaded the woman willingly to submit to a most impure
action； and to prefer it to lawful wedlock； the woman； because
she was persuaded to yield herself to be corrupted； either for
pleasure or for gain。 However； if a man light on a woman when she
is alone； and forces her； where nobody was present to come to her
assistance； let him only be put to death。 Let him that hath
corrupted a virgin not yet espoused marry her； but if the father
of the damsel be not willing that she should be his wife； let him
pay fifty shekels as the price of her prostitution。 He that
desires to be divorced from his wife for any cause （25）
whatsoever； （and many such causes happen among men；） let him in
writing give assurance that he will never use her as his wife any
more； for by this means she may be at liberty to marry another
husband； although before this bill of divorce be given； she is
not to be permitted so to do： but if she be misused by him also；
or if； when he is dead； her first husband would marry her again；
it shall not be lawful for her to return to him。 If a woman's
husband die； and leave her without children； let his brother
marry her； and let him call the son that is born to him by his
brother's name； and educate him as the heir of his inheritance；
for this procedure will be for the benefit of the public； because
thereby families will not fail； and the estate will continue
among the kindred； and this will be for the solace of wives under
their