Even though the only reference to adultery in this whole section, which extends to 23:14, is in 22:22, the focus is nevertheless on expanding the implications of the seventh commandment. The sin of adultery was called the “great sin” in Genesis 20:9 (KJV) and in the ancient Near East. The rest of chapter 22 in Deuteronomy is concerned with six cases of those betrothed or married and the question of chastity.

The first case concerns the virginity of a betrothed woman when her new husband makes a false accusation against her and thus comes to dislike (in Hebrew, “hate”) her (22:13–17). He is accusing her either of not being a virgin at the time of their marriage or of already being pregnant when he married her. Since the elders are involved, the offenses are against society as a whole …