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thereby families will not fail； and the estate will continue
among the kindred； and this will be for the solace of wives under
their affliction； that they are to be married to the next
relation of their former husbands。 But if the brother will not
marry her； let the woman come before the senate； and protest
openly that this brother will not admit her for his wife； but
will injure the memory of his deceased brother； while she is
willing to continue in the family； and to hear him children。 And
when the senate have inquired of him for what reason it is that
he is averse to this marriage； whether he gives a bad or a good
reason； the matter must come to this issue； That the woman shall
loose the sandals of the brother； and shall spit in his face； and
say； He deserves this reproachful treatment from her； as having
injured the memory of the deceased。 And then let him go away out
of the senate； and bear this reproach upon him all his life long；
and let her marry to whom she pleases； of such as seek her in
marriage。 But now； if any man take captive； either a virgin； or
one that hath been married； （26） and has a mind to marry her； let
him not be allowed to bring her to bed to him； or to live with
her as his wife； before she hath her head shaven； and hath put on
her mourning habit； and lamented her relations and friends that
were slain in the battle； that by this means she may give vent to
her sorrow for them； and after that may betake herself to
feasting and matrimony； for it is good for him that takes a
woman； in order to have children by her； to be complaisant to her
inclinations； and not merely to pursue his own pleasure； while he
hath no regard to what is agreeable to her。 But when thirty days
are past； as the time of mourning； for so many are sufficient to
prudent persons for lamenting the dearest friends； then let them
proceed to the marriage； but in case when he hath satisfied his
lust； he be too proud to retain her for his wife； let him not
have it in his power to make her a slave； but let her go away
whither she pleases； and have that privilege of a free woman。
24。 As to those young men that despise their parents； and do not
pay them honor； but offer them affronts； either because they are
ashamed of them or think themselves wiser than they； … in the
first place； let their parents admonish them in words； （for they
are by nature of authority sufficient for becoming their judges；）
and let them say thus to them： … That they cohabited together；
not for the sake of pleasure； nor for the augmentation of their
riches； by joining both their stocks together； but that they
might have children to take care of them in their old age； and
might by them have what they then should want。 And say further to
him； 〃That when thou wast born； we took thee up with gladness；
and gave God the greatest thanks for thee； and brought time up
with great care； and spared for nothing that appeared useful for
thy preservation； and for thy instruction in what was most
excellent。 And now； since it is reasonable to forgive the sins of
those that are young； let it suffice thee to have given so many
indications Of thy contempt of us； reform thyself； and act more
wisely for the time to come； considering that God is displeased
with those that are insolent towards their parents； because he is
himself the Father of the whole race of mankind； and seems to
bear part of that dishonor which falls upon those that have the
same name； when they do not meet with dire returns from their
children。 And on such the law inflicts inexorable punishment； of
which punishment mayst thou never have the experience。〃 Now if
the insolence of young men be thus cured； let them escape the
reproach which their former errors deserved； for by this means
the lawgiver will appear to be good； and parents happy； while
they never behold either a son or a daughter brought to
punishment。 But if it happen that these words and instructions；
conveyed by them in order to reclaim the man； appear to be
useless； then the offender renders the laws implacable enemies to
the insolence he has offered his parents； let him therefore be
brought forth （27） by these very parents out of the city； with a
multitude following him； and there let him be stoned； and when he
has continued there for one whole day； that all the people may
see him； let him be buried in the night。 And thus it is that we
bury all whom the laws condemn to die； upon any account
whatsoever。 Let our enemies that fall in battle be also buried；
nor let any one dead body lie above the ground； or suffer a
punishment beyond what justice requires。
25。 Let no one lend to any one of the Hebrews upon usury； neither
usury of what is eaten or what is drunken； for it is not just to
make advantage of the misfortunes of one of thy own countrymen；
but when thou hast been assistant to his necessities； think it
thy gain if thou obtainest their gratitude to thee； and withal
that reward which will come to thee from God； for thy humanity
towards him。
26。 Those who have borrowed either silver or any sort of fruits；
whether dry or wet； （I mean this； when the Jewish affairs shall；
by the blessing of God； be to their own mind；） let the borrowers
bring them again； and restore them with pleasure to those who
lent them； laying them up； as it were； in their own treasuries；
and justly expecting to receive them thence； if they shall want
them again。 But if they be without shame； and do not restore it；
let not the lender go to the borrower's house； and take a pledge
himself； before judgment be given concerning it； but let him
require the pledge； and let the debtor bring it of himself；
without the least opposition to him that comes upon him under the
protection of the law。 And if he that gave the pledge be rich；
let the creditor retain it till what he lent be paid him again；
but if he be poor； let him that takes it return it before the
going down of the sun； especially if the pledge be a garment；
that the debtor may have it for a covering in his sleep； God
himself naturally showing mercy to the poor。 It is also not
lawful to take a millstone； nor any utensil thereto belonging；
for a pledge； that the debtor； may not be deprived of instruments
to get their food withal； and lest they be undone by their
necessity。
27。 Let death be the punishment for stealing a man； but he that
hath purloined gold or silver； let him pay double。 If any one
kill a man that is stealing something out of his house； let him
be esteemed guiltless； although the man were only breaking in at
the wall。 Let him that hath stolen cattle pay fourfold what is
lost； excepting the case of an ox； for which let the thief pay
fivefold。 Let him that is so poor that he cannot pay what mulet
is laid upon him； be his servant to whom he was adjudged to pay
it。
28。 If any one be sold to one of his own nation； let him serve
him six years； and on the seventh let him go free。 But if he have
a son by a woman servant in his purchaser's house； and if； on
account of his good…will to his master； and his natural affection
to his wife and children； he will be his servant still； let him
be set free only at the coming of the year of jubilee； which is
the fiftieth year； and let him then take away with him his
children and wife； and let them be free also。
29。 If any one find gold or silver on the road； let him inquire
after him that lost it； and make proclamation of the place where
he found it； and then restore it to him again； as not thinking it
right to make his own profit by the loss of another。 And the same
rule is to be observed in cattle found to have wandered away into
a lonely place。 If the owner be not presently discovered； let him
that is the finder keep it with himself； and appeal to God that
he has not purloined what belongs to another。
30。 It is not lawful to pass by any beast that is in distress；
when in a storm it is fallen down in the mire； but to endeavor to
preserve it； as having a sympathy with it in its pain。
31。 It is also a duty to show the roads to those who do not know
them； and not to esteem it a matter for sport； when we hinder
others' advantages； by setting them in a wrong way。
32。 In like manner； let no one revile a person blind or dumb。
33。 If men strive together； and there be no instrument of iron；
let him that is smitten be avenged immediately； by inflicting the
same punishment on him that smote him： but if when he is carried
home he lie sick many days； and then die； let him that smote him
not escape punishment； but if he that is smitten escape death；
and yet be at great expense for his cure； the smiter shall pay
for all that has been expended during the time of his sickness；
and for all that he has paid the physician。 He that kicks a woman
with child； so that the woman miscarry； （28） let him pay a fine
in money； as the judges shall determine； as having diminished the
multitude by the destruction of what was in her womb； and let
money also be given the woman's husband by him that kicked her；
but if she die of the stroke； let him also be put to death； the
law judging it equitable that life should go for life。
34。 Let no one of the Israelites keep any poison （29