xhieron , 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago)

This is actually a really fascinating text, historically and theologically. Whether you’re religious or not, the society that produced this text–like our society–had an interest in preserving families. It did not want bastards who would be dependent on community resources. So it enlisted the priests to superstition away jealous husbands. Are you just so sure she’s a cheating whore? Well have her drink this magic poison, and if she is she’ll never have kids! Spooky. If she’s not, then nothing happens. And if she’s pregnant, you’re now game theorying with your worldview: are you about to risk killing your own baby in an effort to kill a bastard? Better tread lightly, sirs!

I suspect (admittedly with no evidence) that this resulted in the intentionally high burden of proof for adultery being honored more consistently, and on a large scale, it probably meant more insecure husbands reared families, more women were not subject to the draconian penalties arising out of their pseudo-property status, and priests could push families to remain stable.