It's funny that people keep singling out that specific part of the law about rape. Why don't you look at all 4 laws about rape. There's no justice for the woman, and she would even be stoned to death in some cases. That's not prohibiting rape. Just prohibiting stealing another man's property.

About people staying in tight knit groups, what a joke. That completely contradicts your previous example of the law about rape. There are plenty of biblical examples of women being alone or with only a man. The woman at the well, Ruth and Boaz, the woman who went to see Elijah to bring her son to life, the woman who went to der Elisha to get more oil, Hannah praying for a child, Hagar when the angel approached her, etc.

Not to mention, you act like rape can't happen in public or with others present. You don't think somebody could have easily raped Ruth on her and Naomi's journey home? If Abram and Isaac were willing to offer their wives to be raped (because they feared being murdered) on their journeys, I don't see how a woman would have been any safer in the presence of other women. Even Boaz sent a servant to guard Ruth gleaming in the fields, because he feared one of the men would rape her publicly. So... I don't know where you're coming from.