16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

These verses deal with what should happen if a man seduces a maiden. Interesting to note is that while there is an option for the woman to not become the man’s wife, it is not to be available to that man. He has already committed himself by his own indiscretion, and he does not have the option to surrender his duty. It was the woman’s father who may use his own wisdom and experience to refuse the marriage if he deems the man to be an unworthy husband.

If the marriage is declined, though, the man who seduced the young woman must still pay a dowry, because once again, he has already committed himself by his indiscretion. And, once again, contrary to modern notions that the Bible is sexist, notice that the law is skewed to the benefit of the more vulnerable woman in this situation. Knowing where life presented more challenges to a particular group, God balanced the scales by tilting His laws in their favor. If anyone had to be shrewd and careful now, it was the man, for he could find himself sleeping with a maiden who he thought he would marry, only to discover it was all a scam to get a dowry from him, and then she could go on to seduce another man thereafter.