David Resnick, a Rabbi and scholar in Jewish and moral education, dives into the Bible's approach to stopping battlefield rape. He discusses the Beautiful Captive Law that seeks to protect women and promote soldier accountability. Resnick emphasizes the importance of empowerment and community responsibility, revealing how these ancient teachings can be applied to modern issues of sexual abuse. He also highlights the value of incorporating biblical texts into education to foster respect and prevent sexual violence in today's society.
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insights INSIGHT
Bible's Protective Captive Law
The Bible's beautiful captive law mandates marrying the captive woman, not immediate sexual access.
It recognizes the soldier's lust while protecting the vulnerable woman's dignity and need for care.
insights INSIGHT
Law Stops Rape And Demands Care
The law stops battlefield rape by imposing a marriage and 30-day mourning period before intimacy.
It re-educates the soldier to see the captive as a traumatized woman needing rehabilitation.
insights INSIGHT
Captive Woman's Needs Prioritized
The captive woman's physical and emotional needs take precedence over the soldier's lust.
This principle is revolutionary, requiring the man's restraint despite his power.
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Empowered or Abused, the Bible's Plan to Stop Battlefield Rape and Reduce Sexual Abuse
Empowered or Abused, the Bible's Plan to Stop Battlefield Rape and Reduce Sexual Abuse
The Bible's Plan to Stop Battlefield Rape and Reduce Sexual Abuse
David Resnick
David Resnick's "Empowered or Abused" delves into the "Beautiful Captive" law in Deuteronomy, examining the Bible's approach to addressing battlefield rape. The book analyzes the law's complexities, exploring its intent to protect vulnerable women while also considering the soldier's perspective. Resnick's research traces the law's interpretation throughout history, highlighting its evolution and relevance to contemporary discussions on sexual abuse. The book offers insights into the social and cultural dynamics surrounding the law, providing a nuanced understanding of its historical context and potential applications in modern society. Ultimately, it challenges readers to consider the ethical implications of power dynamics and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of victims.
Just and Unjust Wars
Michael Walzer
In 'Just and Unjust Wars,' Michael Walzer draws on medieval Just War theory to develop a modern, secular approach to the ethics of warfare. The book distinguishes between *jus ad bellum* (the justice of going to war) and *jus in bello* (the justice in the conduct of war), arguing that these are separate and independent judgments. Walzer critiques both amoral realism and pacifism, advocating for a 'War Convention' that includes principles such as non-combatant immunity and the moral equality of soldiers. He uses historical examples, including World War II, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts, to illustrate his arguments and to emphasize the importance of protecting human rights and avoiding harm to civilians. The book has been highly influential in the field of just war theory and continues to be a standard reference in discussions about the ethics of warfare[1][2][4].
The last girl
Nadia Murad
In this memoir, Nadia Murad recounts her life in the Yazidi village of Kocho, her capture by ISIS, and her eventual escape. The book highlights her journey from being a victim of genocide and sexual slavery to becoming a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist advocating for the rights of Yazidi women and survivors of sexual violence.
What to do when a victorious soldier lusts for the beautiful woman he’s just taken captive in an overseas war. In fact, her body already belongs to him as war booty. If they’re alone in an alley, no one will find out what he does to her.
That’s the incendiary situation to which the Bible responds with the Beautiful Captive Law. The Bible’s first step was to stop battlefield rape and protect the vulnerable woman from the powerful soldier. More than that, the Bible has strategies to get the soldier to control himself, even when no one is looking. Then the Bible brings the soldier to care for her, as the person she is. The Jewish tradition’s next major step was in the 12th century when it empowered the captive to decide for herself what direction she wants her life to take, including going free without marrying him. Empowered or Abused: The Bible's Plan to Stop Battlefield Rape and Reduce Sexual Abuse (BfoT, 2025) shows how these strategies can work in our communities today, to reduce all kinds of sexual abuse.
Tales of passion, martyrdom and a rare man who can “Just say no” to a rape he could have gotten away with -- can help us educate our youth toward a more respectful future for all gender relations, not just war-time rape. Surprises await both Bible-believers and Bible-skeptics.
New Books in Biblical Studies 
