And the daughter of any priest, if she defiles herself by playing the harlot, she defiles her father: she shall be burned with fire.
Read Chapter 21
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Fire. Provided she be betrothed, and still in her father's house; so that the infamy fall upon him. (Jonathan)
For if she be with her husband, she must undergo the usual punishment of stoning. Other young women received no corporal punishment for simple fornication: the man was bound to marry them, if the father consented; and, at any rate, he was forced to give them a dowry, Exodus xxii. 16. (Calmet)
But if the woman pretended falsely that they were virgins, they were stoned, Deuteronomy xxii. 20.
But why speak of the men engaged in the ministry? Even the daughters of priests, who are of no significance for the priestly office, incur a far more severe penalty than do others for the same sins, because of their fathers’ dignity. The offense is the same (it is prostitution in both cases) when committed by them and the daughters of ordinary people, but their punishment is far greater. You see how thoroughly God proves to you that he demands much more punishment of the ruler than of the subjects.
