A man could easily obtain a divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1 states, “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” Women, however, weren't allowed the same standard. Women couldn't start divorce proceedings against their husbands. once divorced, it was unlikely that such a woman would marry again; however, if she did, the ancient Hebrews had a rule that applied. If the divorced woman did marry, and upon the death of her new husband found that she again desired her first husband and he desired her, they wouldn't be permitted to marry, because it was considered an abomination. However, if a woman's sister married and then died, the woman could marry her sister's husband if he desired her.

A woman's failure to produce male heirs to carry forward a man's name and genes was problematic. Having no children was often the reason for a man to seek a divorce from the woman he had married. Another reason for getting a divorce was if a man believed he had married a woman who was not a virgin. If he truly thought that he had been deceived, a man could demand proof from his wife's family. Generally, proof was considered blood on the bed sheet that the groom and bride had slept on their wedding night. If the bed linen didn't provide the proof sought by the groom, his bride paid the price with her life — the men of the village stoned her to death (Deuteronomy 22:13–21).