Deuteronomy 22 rape law — two scenarios and the woman's protection

Mike reads and explains Deuteronomy 22:23-27 (ESV). The passage presents two distinct scenarios: (1) In the city — betrothed woman and man found together; she is stoned along with him because her not crying out (in a populated area where people would have heard) indicates consent; both are punished for consensual adultery against her betrothal. (2) In the open country — man seizes the betrothed woman; only the man is killed; the woman is completely exonerated because she could not have been heard even if she screamed — rape is explicitly compared to murder. The passage gives the woman benefit of the doubt if she is outside the city. Under the Mosaic covenant Israel bore governmental consequences for unholiness; this is the law's role to show the gravity of sin. Jesus delivers from condemnation. The passage actually protects women in rape: she is declared to have "committed no offense punishable by death" — remarkable for the ancient world. Mike dismisses the "mute woman in the city" objection as absurd over-literalism.