’WPC8& ®‰Ōz³ž“ģ&Ęān˜S}ĻJD™sĄÜ¬.5œÄ¦ó^|!;”8Zä‹HĪ“nŗ8w]­p›Ö€\F¼§æąń̙ĢČ°‚°C@śą JTvŚ”ÜŠ²ÖŌq}ż(L¶{›J9n;IŪX֔’v8Ä3ų.Wu…Pł\ŗĢNüœA‰'Ü{»ÓŠiš¶ķÜĒŻSŸķżYn˜Ni ą:øĮ˜ƒŁŲKf€!Q8’$7Žc”Ž_"š[öŚ+į%*Źb/łĻŅ'œ®ˆmQ€®{5Žs' šir|€760TŚR®vRÅS˜×=ŠM²¼Ī"ÕxŁ1vžLõ3¬%čŠ)cBŠ&<čµ­PIUiD(œ•ÓÉĄJźĖ"8®·waoKŽE7±"ŃÓ3mņ#ūūKÆ7rš–Ņo‡ˆ4–¦3Wų ™* -#’@ö"Ž:ć‡åwŪ²Ø’Z•,SęSWČuóżjņV D’C(hųŻŃ)Į{Yģó~ܶĘBńżdŁ äZ Xš)ų9Ą9P’wŅš+‡źLzĒ…Ś%؛<@{ŻCŁ~a—ŌfŒŽä“.ø 1Ļīõ`ķ~ĄhÉæ?½XėÉ©šź—ń |  ~(¹Ņ1ŲŚvØ_#É2U©Nū %I 0:O ^ ‰ w• 4™ ­ ¼ m¾ ąZÕ UM>/ tm 0Nį b/ N7 0U9 0ŻŽ 0æk 0¹* 0³ć 0­– 0§C 0”ź 0›‹ 0æ& 0Ėå 0­° 0§] 0” 0›„ 0•@ 0Õ 0‡d 0¼ė 0ȧ 0Ŗo 0¤ 0ž½ 0˜[ 0’ó 0Œ… 0„x• 0V  1uc 72Ų| UP@†!xĘ!Ę!Ę!Ę!Ę! 0V>">">">">">">">">">">">">"ō”"”"ˆ#ˆ#Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$Ÿ$ 1e¶%¶%¶% B&˜Canon MG6200 series Printerģ . .ģ 0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōeæ|Dō˜|DntFold3|x.’U‹’’’’8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUEō\  `&Times New Romanhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10949-monogamy(ĶO$——Ō’ŌņņóóŌ’Ō- ł-*+ ’’(_26Ō2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ą*D+D ’’(_25Ó Øż ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓÓ Øż ÓÓ ° Ó*5+5 ’’(_24Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*2+2 ’’(_23Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*/+/ ’’(_22Ó ø ÓÓ#””ģDœōL¤#ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ#””ģDœōL¤#ÓÓ ø Ó*,+, ’’(_21Ó  ÓÓ ģģDœōL¤ ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ ģģDœōL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)+) ’’(_20Ó h ÓÓDDœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓDDœōL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&+& ’’(_19Ó Ą ÓÓœœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓœœōL¤ÓÓ Ą Ó*#+# ’’(_18Ó  ÓÓ ōōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ōą..ąÓ ōōL¤ÓÓ  Ó*>> ’’(_17Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤2ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤2ÓÓ  Ó*DD ’’(_16Ó Øż ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓÓ Øż ÓÓ ° Ó*55 ’’(_15Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓÓ  Ó*22 ’’(_14Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó*// ’’(_13Ó ø ÓÓ#””ģDœōL¤#ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó#””ģDœōL¤#ÓÓ ø Ó*,, ’’(_12Ó  ÓÓ ģģDœōL¤ ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó ģģDœōL¤ ÓÓ  Ó*)) ’’(_11Ó h ÓÓDDœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€ÓDDœōL¤ÓÓ h Ó*&& ’’(_10Ó Ą ÓÓœœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€ÓœœōL¤ÓÓ Ą Ó(## ’’&_9Ó  ÓÓ ōōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  Ō€Ó ōōL¤ÓÓ  Ó(>> ’’&_8Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤2ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤2ÓÓ  Ó(DD ’’&_7Ó Øż ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ģDœōL¤,ÓÓ Øż ÓÓ ° Ó(55 ’’&_6Ó  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ)ä ä <”ģDœōL¤)ÓÓ  Ó(22 ’’&_5Ó ` ÓÓ&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ&<<”ģDœōL¤&ÓÓ ` Ó(// ’’&_4Ó ø ÓÓ#””ģDœōL¤#ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ#””ģDœōL¤#ÓÓ ø Ó(,, ’’&_3Ó  ÓÓ ģģDœōL¤ ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ ģģDœōL¤ ÓÓ  Ó()) ’’&_2Ó h ÓÓDDœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓDDœōL¤ÓÓ h Ó(&& ’’&_1Ó Ą ÓÓœœōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓœœōL¤ÓÓ Ą Ó&## ’’$_Ó  ÓÓ ōōL¤ÓŌ2ŌŌ3  ŌÓ ōōL¤ÓÓ  Óhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5941-exogamy[The(.3½Ž$§§Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)/i) honouring arasmoharxxxiv xxxiTobitEcclusSirach lxi xlix xlv MacclevirateHylesSchaap xxxvboshethShechemiteJudean L?wGesammelteSchriftenbaraita YebShulh.an Aruk EbenTryph Talm ISBEAntipaterFlaviusignobilityGlaphyriathat that(ÖĆ9 Z‹(Times New Roman http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4585-concubinage(.3½Ž$ØØŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż źŻ ƒ.½Ž'ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  Óą@@  ģąŌ‡ŠÅ/ˆXXŌņ ņA€SCRIPTURAL€DEFINITION€ANDŠ ° ŠDESCRIPTION€OF€MARRIAGEó óŌ#†XäpXˆŠÅ/[#Ō Ż ƒ8½Ž(ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōą@ļ ļ ģąņ ņŌ‡ŠÅ/ˆXXŌTHE€MARRIAGE,€DIVORCE,€REMARRIAGE,€ˆŠ ° Šą@  ģąAND€š šHUSBAND€OF€ONE€WIFEšš€CONTROVERSYó óŌ#†XäpXˆŠÅ/R#Ō Ż ƒ8½Ž(ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōą@ļ ļ ģąŌ‡ŠÅ/ˆXXŌņ ņTHE€MARRIAGE,€DIVORCE,€REMARRIAGE,€ˆŠ ° Šą@  ģąAND€š šHUSBAND€OF€ONE€WIFEšš€CONTROVERSYó óŌ#†XäpXˆŠÅ/O#Ō ! ’’35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. dŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŲŲŃ8€äpXXdģdČ8ŃÖ€E’’Öņ ņņņóóŃ€ŃŃ  ŃŌ_ŌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓŌ‡īŖ īXXŌCHAPTER€2:€A€SCRIPTURAL€DEFINITIONŠ ° ŠAND€DESCRIPTION€OF€MARRIAGEŌ#†XäpXīīŖ č#ŌŌ‡ŠÅ/ˆXXäpŌŌ#†XäpXˆŠÅ/|#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ Ō$ ŠŌ_ŌŌ_ŌÓÜÓĢŌ_Ōą  ąWe€want€to€state€before€we€go€any€further€that€while€we€believe€that€a€sexualŠ ä4 Šrelationship€between€a€man€and€a€woman€establishes€a€covenant€relationship€between€themŠ Š  Šthat€binds€upon€them€the€scriptural€obligation€to€live€together€before€God€as€husband€andŠ ¼  Šwife,€we€do€not€believe€that€a€marriage€is€nothing€more€than€a€sexual€relationship.€ó óWe€will€beŠ Ø ų Šaccused€by€some€of€downgrading€the€Biblical€institution€of€marriage.€The€problem€is€one€ofŠ ˜ č Šperception.€Most€people€just€do€not€see€adultery€and€fornication€as€the€vile€and€wicked€acts€that€theyŠ „ Ō Šare.€Most€people€just€do€not€understand€the€institution€of€marriage€as€it€is€presented€in€the€ScripturesŠ p Ą  Šbecause€they€have€not€been€taught€properly.€Another€major€part€of€the€issue€is€that€wicked€men€andŠ \¬  Šwomen€have€made€a€mockery€of€fornication€and€adultery.€Most€men€and€women€today€cannot€evenŠ H˜  Šblush€because€their€conscience€has€been€seared€by€the€constant€diet€of€sexual€promiscuity€and€sexualŠ 4„  Šperversion€that€they€are€fed€through€their€televisions€and€movie€theaters.€The€Devil€has€conned€themŠ  p  Šinto€believing€that€fornication€and€adultery€are€casual€sexual€acts€to€be€freely€partook€of.€God€doesŠ  \  Šnot€view€fornication€and€adultery€as€a€mere€sexual€act.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp¾#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌIt€is€a€very€serious€thing€with€God.€GodššsŠ ųH Šperspective€on€adultery€and€fornication€is€that€it€is€an€attack€upon€the€institution€of€marriage.€ThatŠ ä4 Šis€why€God€established€the€death€penalty€for€fornication€and€adultery€under€the€Old€Testament€law.Š Š  ŠAdultery€and€fornication€are€also€a€picture€of€Satanššs€attack€upon€the€Bride€Of€Christ.€FornicationŠ ¼  Šand€adultery€are€Satanššs€counterpart€to€Godššs€institution€of€marriage.€The€bride€of€Satan€is€a€whore.Š Øų ŠThe€Bride€Of€Christ€is€a€chaste€virginŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ.€If€Christian€men€and€women€lived€with€the€perception€thatŠ ”ä Šsex€is€an€equivalent€act€to€marriage,€we€would€have€a€whole€lot€less€fornicating€pastors€and€preachersŠ €Š Šin€our€pulpits.Š l¼ Šą  ąYou€will€hear€this€stated€many€times€throughout€this€book.€Scriptural€marriage€is€intendedŠ XØ Što€be€one€man€with€one€woman€for€a€lifetime.€God€hates€divorce.€The€Bible€says€that€a€man€and€aŠ D” Šwoman€marry€when€they€become€one€flesh.€The€concept€of€one€flesh€can€be€summarized€as€follows:Š 0€ Šš šNo€man€or€woman€ever€becomes€separated€from€their€own€flesh€until€they€diešš.€€That€is€why€weŠ l Šcan€state€that€God€intended€that€marriage€be€an€š šuntil€death€do€is€partšš€event.€Put€another€way,€whenŠ X Šyou€become€one€flesh€with€the€opposite€sex€God€intends€for€that€relationship€to€be€permanent€untilŠ ōD Šit€is€put€asunder€by€death.€That€is€why€fornication€and€adultery€is€so€wicked€in€the€eyes€of€God.Š ą0 Šą  ąContrary€to€what€many€fundamentalist€and€Baptist€preachers€and€pastors€preach€and€teach,Š Ģ  ŠGod€does€not€put€most€marriages€together.€For€anyone€to€teach€such€a€doctrine€is€a€wicked€slap€inŠ ø! Šthe€face€of€God€the€Holy€Ghost€Who€authored€the€Scriptures.€When€God€sets€forth€the€standards€forŠ ¤"ō  Štwo€people€being€allowed€to€become€one€flesh€and€those€standards€are€violated,€then€it€is€obviousŠ #ą! Šthat€God€did€not€put€those€marriages€together.€While€God€in€his€permissive€will€allows€unscripturalŠ |$Ģ" Šmarriages,€he€does€not€put€them€together.€God€does€not€put€a€believer€and€an€unbeliever€together.Š h%ø # ŠThe€scriptures€do€not€say:€š šwhat€therefore€God€has€allowed€to€be€joined€together,€let€not€man€putŠ T&¤!$ Šasunder.€The€scripture€is€emphatic€that€God€joined€it€together.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp #ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€The€only€marriages€that€can€possiblyŠ @'"% Šbe€described€as€having€been€put€together€by€God€are€those€involving€either€two€Jews€or€two€BibleŠ ,(|#& Šbelieving€Christians.€We€believe€that€God€intends€marriage€to€be€a€high€and€holy€picture€of€the€LordŠ )h$' ŠJesus€Christ€and€His€Bride,€The€Church€of€the€redeemed.€For€that€reason,€we€are€totally€opposed€toŠ *T%( Šany€form€of€polygamy€because€the€Bride€of€Christ€is€one€body€both€spiritually€and€physically€withŠ š*@&) Šthe€Lord€Jesus€Christ.€Hallelujah!€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€has€but€one€Bride€and€Wife€in€RevelationŠ Ü+,'* Š19€and€that€is€the€church€of€the€living€God.€By€stating€we€are€opposed€to€any€form€of€polygamy€weŠ t Šmean€that€we€are€opposed€to€any€form€of€polygyny€that€puts€one€man€with€multiple€wives€at€the€sameŠ `ģ Štime,€or€any€form€of€polyandry€that€puts€one€woman€with€multiple€husbands€at€one€time.€We€areŠ L Ų Šopposed€to€a€man€keeping€concubines€for€the€same€reason.€Most€of€you€are€in€for€a€real€shock€as€weŠ 8 Ä Šgo€forward€in€our€discussion€just€as€we€have€been€in€preparing€this€book!€We€better€read€and€studyŠ $ ° Šour€Bibles€very€carefully€because€if€we€do€not,€we€will€end€up€ignorantly€hurting€some€of€ourŠ  œ Šbrothers€and€sisters€in€Christ.€We€have€seen€many€divorced€people€abused€from€our€pulpits€over€theŠ ü ˆ Šyears.€We€have€seen€many€once€married€peacocks€kick€a€divorced€man€when€he€is€down.€Many€ofŠ č t Šthe€once€married€peacocks€carry€a€razor€and€a€shaker€of€salt€around€to€keep€those€wannabe€š šdoubleŠ Ō` Šmarriedšš€preachers€in€their€proper€place€of€pain€and€eternal€punishment.Š ĄL  ŠĢą8  ąProverbs€30:12„14Š ˜$  Šņņ12€óóThere€is€a€generation€that€are€pure€in€their€own€eyes,€and€yet€is€not€washed€fromŠ „  Štheir€filthiness.€ņņ13€óóThere€is€a€generation,€O€how€lofty€are€their€eyes!€and€their€eyelidsŠ pü  Šare€lifted€up.€ņņ14€óóThere€is€a€generation,€whose€teeth€are€as€swords,€and€their€jaw€teethŠ \č  Šas€knives,€to€devour€the€poor€from€off€the€earth,€and€the€needy€from€among€men.ŠHŌ Š Š  ŠĢą  ąJust€because€we€quote€an€individual€here€and€then€document€why€we€disagree€with€themŠ  ¬ Šdoctrinally€does€not€mean€that€we€do€not€think€they€are€a€brother€in€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ.€Nor€doesŠ  ˜ Šit€mean€that€we€think€they€are€our€enemies.€Nor€does€it€mean€we€would€break€fellowship€with€themŠ ų„ Šbecause€they€disagree€with€us€over€the€content€of€this€book.€Š äp Šą  ąFrom€the€Scriptures€we€can€state€that€God€had€at€least€a€five„fold€purpose€in€ordaining€aŠ Š\ Šhusband€and€wife€relationship:€(1)€To€populate€the€earth;€(2)€To€subdue€the€earth;€(3)€To€haveŠ ¼H Šdominion€over€every€living€thing;€(4)€To€provide€Adam€with€companionship;€(5)€To€provide€AdamŠ Ø4 Šwith€an€help€meet.€We€can€find€this€five„fold€purpose€stated€in€Genesis€1:27„28€and€2:18€where€weŠ ”  Šsee:Š €  ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€1:27„28Š X ä Šņņ27€óóSo€God€created€man€in€his€own€image,€in€the€image€of€God€created€he€him;€maleŠ D!Š Šand€female€created€he€them.€ņņ28€óóAnd€God€blessed€them,€and€God€said€unto€them,€BeŠ 0"¼ Šfruitful,€and€multiply,€and€replenish€the€earth,€and€subdue€it:€and€have€dominion€overŠ #Ø Šthe€fish€of€the€sea,€and€over€the€fowl€of€the€air,€and€over€every€living€thing€thatŠ $” Šmoveth€upon€the€earth.Šō$€ Š Š  ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€2:18Š Ģ&X" Šņņ18€óóAnd€the€LORD€God€said,€It€is€not€good€that€the€man€should€be€alone;€I€will€makeŠ ø'D # Šhim€an€help€meet€for€him.Š¤(0!$Š Š  ŠĢÖ€G’’ÖThe€first€three€purposes€are€contained€in€Genesis€1:28€with€Genesis€2:18€containing€the€last€twoŠ |*#& Špurposes.€God€did€not€create€woman€that€man€might€have€an€adversary€or€a€robot€(slave).€That€is€theŠ h+ō#' Šway€the€Devil€would€have€it.€Neither€did€God€create€a€man€that€God€might€have€an€adversary€or€aŠ t Šrobot.€God€intended€that€a€man€might€be€submitted€to€him€in€the€same€manner€as€a€woman€is€to€beŠ `ģ Šsubmitted€to€her€husband.€It€is€a€chain€of€command€that€was€created€in€love.€God€created€woman€thatŠ L Ų Šthe€man€might€have€companionship€and€a€help€meet€for€carrying€out€Godššs€purpose.€It€is€inŠ 8 Ä Šfulfillment€of€three€of€those€€purposes€that€God€created€the€institution€we€call€marriage.€MarriageŠ $ ° Šwas€the€first€institution€that€God€ordained€followed€by€the€family.€Godššs€first€commandment€toŠ  œ Šmankind€was€to€be€fruitful€and€multiply€(Genesis€1:28).€That€commandment€was€obeyed€in€the€actŠ ü ˆ Šof€becoming€one€flesh€and€God€producing€the€fruit€thereof.€The€act€of€becoming€one€fleshŠ č t Šestablished€the€husband€and€wife€relationship€according€to€Genesis€2:24:Š Ō` ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€2:24Š ¬8  Šņņ24€óóTherefore€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€his€mother,€and€shall€cleave€unto€hisŠ ˜$  Šwife:€and€they€shall€be€one€flesh.Š„ Š Š  ŠĢGenesis€2:24€is€at€least€partially€quoted€five€more€times€in€the€Bible€with€the€scriptural€definitionŠ \č  Šof€marriage€as€being€š šone€fleshšš€never€being€changed.€Genesis€2:24€is€also€partially€quoted€inŠ HŌ  ŠMalachi€2:15€with€the€use€of€the€phrase€š šAnd€did€he€not€make€one?šš.€Genesis€3:24€is€quoted€in€theŠ 4Ą Šfollowing€passages:Š  ¬ ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp–#Ōą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌMalachi€2:15Š ų„ Šņņ15€óóņņņ ņAnd€did€not€he€make€oneó óóó?€Yet€had€he€the€residue€of€the€spirit.€And€whereforeŠ äp Šone?€That€he€might€seek€a€godly€seed.€Therefore€take€heed€to€your€spirit,€and€let€noneŠ Ō` Šdeal€treacherously€against€the€wife€of€his€youth.Ō#†XäpXX Xäpę)#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠĄLŠ Š  ŠĢą8  ąMatthew€19:4„6€Š˜$Š Š  Šą8  ą4€And€he€answered€and€said€unto€them,€Have€ye€not€read,€that€he€which€madeņņ€themóóŠ „ Šat€the€beginning€made€them€male€and€female,€5€And€said,€For€this€cause€shall€a€manŠ pü Šleave€father€and€mother,€and€shall€cleave€to€his€wife:€and€they€twain€shall€be€ņņņ ņoneŠ \ č Šfleshó óóó?€6€Wherefore€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€ņņņ ņone€fleshó óóó.€What€therefore€God€hathŠ L!Ų Šjoined€together,€let€not€man€put€asunder.Š<"ČŠ Š  ŠĢą8  ąMark€10:6„8€Š$ Š Š  Šą8  ą6€But€from€the€beginning€of€the€creation€God€made€them€male€and€female.€7€For€thisŠ %Œ  Šcause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€cleave€to€his€wife;€8€And€theyŠ ģ%x! Štwain€shall€be€one€flesh:€so€then€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€ņņņ ņone€fleshó óóó.ŠŲ&d"Š Š  ŠĢą8  ą1€Corinthians€6:16„17€Š“(@!$Š Š  Šą8  ą16€What?€know€ye€not€that€he€which€is€joined€to€an€harlot€is€one€body?€for€two,€saithŠ  ),"% Šhe,€shall€be€ņņņ ņone€fleshó óóó.€17€But€he€that€is€joined€unto€the€Lord€is€one€spirit.ŠŒ*#&Š Š  Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ąŠ|+$'` x` x Šą8  ąEphesians€5:31„32€ŠtŠ Š  Šą8  ą31€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€shall€be€joined€unto€hisŠ `ģ Šwife,€and€they€two€shall€be€ņņņ ņone€fleshó óóó.€32€This€is€a€great€mystery:€but€I€speakŠ L Ų Šconcerning€Christ€and€the€church.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp\+#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ< ČŠ Š  ŠĢThis€particular€passage€is€quoted€in€1€Corinthians€6:16€in€the€context€of€the€longest€passage€onŠ    Šmarriage€in€the€New€Testament€with€that€being€1€Corinthians€chapter€7.€The€law€of€first€mentionŠ  Œ Šdefines€a€wife€as€woman€who€has€become€one€flesh€with€a€man€in€Genesis€2:24.€The€word€ņ ņš šņņmarryóóó 󚚊 ģ x Šsees€its€first€mention€in€Genesis€38:8€where€the€word€ņ ņš šņņmarryó󚚀ó óis€defined€as€a€man€going€in€unto€aŠ Üh Šwoman€for€the€purpose€of€producing€seed.€This€verse€states:Š ĢX  ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€38:8Š ¤0  Šņņ8€óóAnd€Judah€said€unto€Onan,€Go€in€unto€thy€brotherššs€wife,€and€ņņņ ņmarryó óóó€her,€and€raiseŠ   Šup€seed€to€thy€brother.Š€ Š Š  ŠĢUnmarried€people€become€guilty€of€fornication€when€they€come€together€sexually€and€then€do€notŠ Xä  Šlive€together€as€husband€and€wife€as€commanded€in€the€Scriptures.€God€considered€the€sexualŠ DŠ Šrelationship€to€be€of€such€importance€that€the€law€required€death€for€those€who€violated€BiblicalŠ 0¼ Šcommandments€concerning€it.€Married€people€who€come€together€sexually€with€someone€they€areŠ Ø Šnot€married€to€commit€fornication€and€adultery.€Adultery€comes€under€the€broad€umbrella€ofŠ ” Šfornication€in€the€New€Testament.€See€the€definitions€section€at€the€rear€of€the€book.€(We€understandŠ ō€ Šthat€adultery€and€fornication€come€from€two€different€Greek€words,€but€donššt€pull€out€your€GreekŠ ąl Šsword€yet.€You€may€give€yourself€a€deadly€wound).€Now,€Genesis€2:24€and€Genesis€38:8€€wouldŠ ĢX Šnormally€be€enough€to€convince€most€Bible€students€that€a€husband€and€wife€relationship,€orŠ øD Šmarriage,€is€established€by€the€act€of€becoming€one€flesh,€but€that€is€not€the€case€in€the€subject€beforeŠ ¤0 Šus.€Tragically,€many€men€in€our€pulpits€and€men€and€women€in€our€pews€have€been€blinded€byŠ  Šteaching€and€preaching€that€is€more€holy€than€the€Scriptures.€In€fact,€it€is€a€teaching€that€exceeds€theŠ | Šrighteousness€of€the€Scriptures.Š h ō Šą  ąThe€words€marriage€and€wedding€are€used€interchangeably€in€the€New€Testamentņņņ ņó óóó.€The€wordŠ T!ą Šš šmarriagešš€is€used€17€times€in€the€New€Testament€while€the€word€š šweddingšš€is€used€7€times.€MostŠ @"Ģ Šof€the€time€the€two€terms€are€used€to€refer€to€the€marriage€supper€and€the€wedding€feasts€thatŠ ,#ø Šfollowed€the€man€and€woman€becoming€one€flesh.€€That€is€true€of€the€marriage€(supper)€in€John€2:1„Š $¤ Š11€and€of€the€marriage€supper€in€Revelation€19:7„9.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp:2#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌņ ņŠ %  Šą  ąMany€Baptist€and€fundamentalist€preachers,€teachers,€and€pastors€hold€to€a€veryŠ š%|! ŠRoman€Catholic€doctrine€of€what€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage.€ó óHere€is€why€we€say€that.€TheŠ Ü&h" ŠRoman€Catholic€Church€holds€that€a€marriage€is€a€ceremony€to€be€presided€over€by€the€church€whichŠ Ģ'X # Šis€the€same€view€held€by€many€Baptists€including€many€Independent€Baptists.€That€doctrine€will€notŠ ø(D!$ Šstand€the€test€of€the€Scriptures.€Marriage€is€one€of€the€seven€sacraments€of€the€Roman€CatholicŠ ¤)0"% ŠChurch.€Because€they€unscripturally€declare€marriage€to€be€a€sacrament,€they€feel€that€they€are€theŠ *#& Šonly€earthly€authority€divinely€authorized€to€dispense€marriage.€This€makes€the€authority€to€contractŠ |+$' Ša€marriage€to€be€vested€in€the€Roman€Catholic€Church.€The€custom€of€having€a€ceremony€with€aŠ t Špriest,€pastor,€or€preacher€present€came€slithering€up€out€of€the€crypts€of€Roman€Catholic€theology.Š `ģ ŠHere€is€the€proof:Š L Ų Šņ ņĢą8  ąó óThose€who€shall€attempt€to€contract€marriage€otherwise€than€in€the€presence€of€theŠ $ ° Šparish€priest,€or€of€some€other€priest€by€permission€of€the€said€parish€priest,€or€of€theŠ  œ ŠOrdinary,€and€in€the€presence€of€two€or€three€witnesses;€the€holy€Synod€renders€suchŠ ü ˆ Šwholly€incapable€of€thus€contracting€and€declares€such€contracts€invalid€and€null,€asŠ č t Šby€the€present€decree€It€invalidates€and€annuls€them.€Moreover€It€enjoins,€that€theŠ Ō` Šparish€priest,€or€any€other€priest,€who€shall€have€been€present€at€any€such€contractŠ ĄL  Šwith€a€less€number€of€witnesses€(than€as€aforesaid);€as€also€the€witnesses€who€haveŠ ¬8  Šbeen€present€thereat€without€the€parish€priest,€or€some€other€priest;€and€also€theŠ ˜$  Šcontracting€parties€themselves;€shall€be€severely€punished,€at€the€discretion€of€theŠ „  ŠOrdinary.€(Council€Of€Trent,€Seventh€Session,€Decree€On€Reformation€Chapter€1,Š pü  ŠJuly€15,€1563)Š\č Š Š  Šņ ņĢThe€authority€to€contract€marriage€is€not€Scripturally€vested€in€any€church€including€theŠ 4Ą ŠRoman€Catholic€Church.€ó óNeither€does€the€Roman€Catholic€Church€have€any€scriptural€authorityŠ  ¬ Što€annul€€marriages.€If€you€are€a€New€Testament€preacher€or€pastor,€you€do€not€have€the€scripturalŠ œ Špower€or€authority€to€state:€š šBy€the€power€vested€in€me,€I€pronounce€you€husband€and€wifešš.€AŠ üˆ Šchurch€or€state€authority€may€have€wrongfully€granted€you€that€authority,€but€it€is€not€scriptural.€TheŠ čt Šauthority€to€contract€marriage€is€scripturally€vested€in€the€family€and€its€individuals.€For€those€of€youŠ Ō` Šwho€will€not€marry€divorced€couples,€you€do€not€have€the€scriptural€authority€to€š šmarryšš€anyoneŠ ĄL Šregardless€of€whether€they€have€been€divorced.€Though€civil€authorities€regulate€marriage,€they€haveŠ ¬8 Šno€scriptural€authority€to€contract€marriages.€In€the€Old€Testament,€it€was€generally€the€father€of€theŠ ˜$ ŠBridegroom€that€sought€out€a€Bride€for€the€Son.€You€never€see€an€Old€Testament€priest€in€that€role.Š „ ŠNor€do€you€see€an€Old€Testament€priest€officiating€at€any€marriage€ceremony,€period.€Nor€is€theŠ pü Škingššs€representative€there€officiating!€The€same€pattern€is€repeated€in€the€New€Testament.€We€areŠ \ č Šnot€opposed€to€weddings€and€marriage€ceremonies,€but€they€are€not€required€in€the€eyes€of€God€forŠ H!Ō Ša€marriage€to€be€Scripturally€valid€and€binding.€It€is€the€sexual€act€that€makes€a€marriage€scripturallyŠ 4"Ą Šbinding.€While€we€are€not€opposed€to€weddings,€we€have€seen€many€so€called€Christian€brides€onŠ  #¬ Štheir€wedding€days€dressed€in€the€most€ungodly€fashion€that€leaves€little€to€the€imagination.€GodššsŠ  $˜ Šstandards€for€Christ€honouring€dress€do€not€get€thrown€out€of€your€bedroom€into€the€publick€arenaŠ ų$„  Šon€your€wedding€day.€Š ä%p! Šą  ąThroughout€this€book,€we€will€continue€to€rebuke€the€idea€that€it€is€a€ceremony€that€makesŠ Š&\" Šfor€a€Biblical€marriage.€You€will€not€find€one€commandment€in€the€Old€Testament€to€a€priest€or€inŠ ¼'H # Šthe€New€Testament€to€a€pastor€or€preacher€that€directs€them€to€conduct€marriage€ceremonies.€NeitherŠ Ø(4!$ Šwill€you€find€one€example€in€either€Testament€of€a€religious€or€governmental€official€conducting€aŠ ”) "% Šmarriage€ceremony€or€vows.€What€you€will€find€in€the€Old€Testament€is€that€all€instructions,Š €* #& Šcommandments,€and€charges€regarding€marriage€are€given€to€the€parents.€There€is€no€scripturalŠ l+ų#' Šauthority€vested€in€the€church€or€in€the€government€to€institute€marriages.€In€Exodus€22:16,€the€fatherŠ t Ševen€had€the€right€to€refuse€to€allow€a€man€to€marry€his€daughter€even€when€the€man€had€taken€herŠ `ģ Švirginity€away.€ņ ņą ø ąó óŌ#†XäpXX2XäpŽ=#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ L Ų Šą  ąWe€will€start€the€next€phase€of€our€study€with€the€dictionary€definitions€of€the€words€betroth,Š 8 Ä Šespouse,€bride,€bridegroom,€marry,€husband,€wife,€and€concubine.€For€a€more€in€depth€definition€andŠ $ ° Šdescription€of€these€terms€refer€to€the€š šGlossary€Of€Termsšš.€The€Websterššs€1812€definition€ofŠ  œ Šespouse€is:€Š ü ˆ ŠĢą8  ąTo€betroth;€to€promise€or€engage€in€marriage,€by€contract€in€writing,€or€by€someŠ Ō` Špledge;€as,€the€king€espoused€his€daughter€to€a€foreign€prince.€Usually€and€properlyŠ ĄL  Šfollowed€by€to,€rather€than€with.€To€marry;€to€wed.Š¬8 Š Š  ŠĢThe€Websterššs€1812€definition€of€betroth€is:€Š „  ŠĢą8  ą1.€To€contract€to€any€one,€in€order€to€a€future€marriage;€to€promise€or€pledge€one€toŠ \č  Šbe€the€future€spouse€of€another;€to€affiance;€used€of€either€sex.€š šThe€father€betrothsŠ HŌ  Šhis€daughteršš.Š4ĄŠ Š  Šą8  ą2.€To€contract€with€one€for€a€future€spouse;€to€espouse;€as,€a€man€betroths€a€lady.Š ¬Š Š  ŠĢSo,€we€see€that€the€definitions€of€betroth€and€espouse€are€essentially€the€same.€The€1812€WebsterššsŠ ų„ ŠDictionary€definition€of€bride€is:Š äp ŠĢą8  ąņ ņó ó1.€A€woman€newly€married.€But€the€name€is€applied€to€a€woman€at€the€marriageŠ ¼H Šfestival,€before€she€is€married,€as€well€as€after€the€ceremony.ŠØ4Š Š  Šą8  ą€2.€A€woman€espoused,€or€contracted€to€be€married.Š” Š Š  ŠĢThe€custom€of€continuing€to€call€a€woman€a€bride€even€after€the€wedding€ceremony€is€thought€toŠ lų Šhave€originated€in€Deuteronomy€24:5€which€states:Š X ä ŠĢą8  ąDeuteronomy€24:5Š 0"¼ Šņņ5€óóWhen€a€man€hath€taken€a€new€wife,€he€shall€not€go€out€to€war,€neither€shall€he€beŠ #Ø Šcharged€with€any€business:€but€he€shall€be€free€at€home€one€year,€and€shall€cheer€upŠ $” Šhis€wife€which€he€hath€taken.Šō$€ Š Š  ŠĢThe€1812€Websterššs€Dictionary€definition€of€bridegroom€is:Š Ģ&X" ŠĢą8  ąņ ņó óA€man€newly€married;€or€a€man€about€to€be€married.Š¤(0!$Š Š  ŠĢThe€1812€Websterššs€Dictionary€definition€of€marry€is:Š |*#& ŠŠ h+ō#' Šą8  ąņ ņó óTo€enter€into€the€conjugal€state;€to€unite€as€husband€and€wife;€to€take€a€husband€orŠ t Ša€wife.€To€take€for€husband€or€wife.€We€say,€a€man€marries€a€woman;€or€a€womanŠ `ģ Šmarries€a€man.€The€first€was€the€original€sense,€but€both€are€now€well€authorized.ŠL ŲŠ Š  ŠĢÖ€IGüÖNotice€that€the€definition€of€marry€is€focused€upon€becoming€one€flesh€in€this€Websterššs€definition.Š $ ° ŠThe€word€conjugal€means€to€come€together€physically.Š  œ ŠĢThe€Websterššs€1812€definition€of€husband€is:€Š č t ŠĢą8  ąA€man€contracted€or€joined€to€a€woman€by€marriage.€A€man€to€whom€a€woman€isŠ ĄL  Šbetrothed,€as€well€as€one€actually€united€by€marriage,€is€called€a€husband.€Lev€19.Š ¬8  ŠDeu€22.Š˜$ Š Š  ŠĢThe€Websterššs€1812€definition€of€wife€is:€Š pü  ŠĢą8  ąThe€lawful€consort€of€man;€a€woman€who€is€united€to€man€in€the€lawful€bonds€ofŠ HŌ  Šwedlock;€the€correlative€of€husband.Š4ĄŠ Š  ŠĢThe€Websterššs€1812€definition€of€concubine€is:€Š  ˜ ŠĢą8  ą1.€A€woman€who€cohabits€with€a€man,€without€the€authority€of€a€legal€marriage;€aŠ äp Šwoman€kept€for€lewd€purposes;€a€kept€mistress.ŠŠ\Š Š  ŠŅe°Ņą8  ą2.€A€wife€of€inferior€condition;€a€lawful€wife,€but€not€united€to€the€man€by€the€usualŠ ¼H Šceremonies,€and€of€inferior€condition.€Such€were€Hagar€and€Keturah,€the€concubinesŠ Ø4 Šof€Abraham;€and€such€concubines€were€allowed€by€the€Roman€laws.Š” !! ŠĢWhat€we€see€in€all€these€definitions€above€is€a€combination€of€scriptural€descriptions€and€legalŠ lų Šdescriptions.€The€scriptural€definition€of€a€term€may€not€be€the€same€as€the€legal€definition,€but€manyŠ X ä Štimes€the€legal€definition€of€a€term€is€the€same€as€the€scriptural€definition.€If€the€legal€definition€ofŠ D!Š Šterm€contradicts€the€scriptural€definition€of€a€term€,€we€are€bound€to€obey€the€scriptures.€Such€is€theŠ 0"¼ Šcase€in€same€sex€š šmarriagesšš€which€are€strictly€forbidden€by€the€Scriptures€as€being€an€abomination.Š #Ø ŠThe€Websterššs€1812€definition€of€unmarried€is:€Š $” ŠĢą8  ąNot€married;€having€no€husband€or€no€wife.Šą%l!!! ŠĢą  ąThis€is€the€case€for€Paul€in€1€Corinthians€7:8.€He€states€that€he€is€unmarried.€He€does€not€stateŠ ø'D # Šthat€he€has€never€been€married€or€that€he€is€not€divorced.€We€will€discuss€the€implications€of€that€laterŠ ¤(0!$ Šon€in€the€chapter€on€š šStandards€For€Church€Service/Qualifications€For€Church€Officesšš.€The€onlyŠ )"% Šplace€that€the€word€š šunmarriedšš€is€used€in€the€Scriptures€is€in€1€Corinthians€7€where€it€is€used€fourŠ |*#& Štimes.€The€word€š šunmarriedšš€is€used€both€of€the€divorced€women€in€1€Corinthians€7:11€and€of€aŠ h+ō#' Švirgin€in€1€Corinthians€7:34.€What€this€means€is€that€the€scriptural€definition€of€an€unmarried€personŠ t Šis€both€a€virgin€who€has€never€been€married€and€the€individual€who€has€been€married,€but€is€nowŠ `ģ Šdivorced.€We€realize€that€by€definition€that€a€virgin€is€one€who€has€never€had€sex€(been€married)€toŠ L Ų Šan€individual€of€the€opposite€sex.ą h ąŠ 8 Ä Šą  ąThe€first€two€questions€we€will€ask€is€what€is€an€espousal€and€what€is€an€engagement?€TheŠ $ ° Šthird€€question€we€will€ask€is:€š šwhat€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage?šš.€Here€are€some€of€theŠ  œ Šquestions€that€follow€from€that€first€three€questions.€Does€a€scriptural€marriage€require€a€ceremony?Š ü ˆ ŠDoes€a€scriptural€marriage€require€a€marriage€license€or€certificate?€Does€a€scriptural€marriage€requireŠ č t Šthe€presence€of€a€priest,€pastor,€preacher,€or€state€official€as€an€administrator?€Š Ō` Šą  ąWhat€is€the€difference€between€an€espousal€and€an€engagement?€In€Matthew€1:18„19,€we€read:Š ĄL  ŠĢą8  ąMatthew€1:18„19Š˜$ !! Šą8  ą18€Now€the€birth€of€Jesus€Christ€was€on€this€wise:€When€as€his€mother€Mary€wasŠ „  Šespoused€to€Joseph,€before€they€came€together,€she€was€found€with€child€of€the€HolyŠ pü  ŠGhost.€19€Then€Joseph€her€husband,€being€a€justņņ€manóó,€and€not€willing€to€make€her€aŠ \č  Špublick€example,€was€minded€to€put€her€away€privily.ŠHŌ !! ŠĢIt€is€most€important€to€note€here€that€Joseph€was€espoused€to€Mary€but€they€had€not€yet€becomeŠ  ¬ Šhusband€and€wife€by€becoming€one€flesh.€In€other€words,€they€were€not€married.€If€the€case€wasŠ  ˜ Šotherwise,€there€could€have€been€no€virgin€birth€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ.€Note€the€followingŠ ų„ Šdescription:Š äp ŠĢą8  ąš šBetrothal€with€the€ancient€Hebrews€was€of€a€more€formal€and€far€more€bindingŠ ¼H Šnature€than€the€š šengagementšš€is€with€us.€Indeed,€it€was€esteemed€a€part€of€theŠ Ø4 Štransaction€of€marriage,€and€that€the€most€binding€part....€Among€the€Jews€theŠ ”  Šbetrothal€was€so€far€regarded€as€binding€that,€if€marriage€should€not€take€place,€owingŠ €  Što€the€absconding€of€the€bridegroom€or€the€breach€of€contract€on€his€part,€the€youngŠ lų Šwoman€could€not€be€married€to€another€man€until€she€was€liberated€by€a€due€processŠ X ä Šand€a€paper€of€divorcešš€[The€International€Standard€Bible€Encyclopedia,€CopyrightŠ D!Š Š1929,€General€Editor€James€Orr,€page€1,997Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp‚R#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ].€[Note€from€the€author€of€this€book:Š 0"¼ Šbetrothal€is€the€same€as€espousal]€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpns#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ#Ø!! ŠĢWe€would€note€that€this€process€is€not€contained€in€the€Scriptures€and€that€it€was€Jewish€custom.Š ō$€  ŠConcerning€this€custom€of€betrothal,€in€the€article€titled€š šBetrothal€And€Nuptial€Rites,€the€1906Š ą%l! ŠJewish€Encyclopedia€had€this€to€say:Š Ģ&X" ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąš šThe€first€step€toward€marriage€was€betrothal,€involving€the€consent€of€theŠ ¤(0!$ Šparent€or€guardian€of€the€girl€and€the€payment€of€a€price.€The€act€of€betrothal€isŠ )"% Šexpressed€by€the€Hebrew€word€š šarasšš;€the€price€paid,€by€š šmoharšš€(see€Gen.€xxxiv.€12;Š |*#& ŠEx.€xxii.€16-17;€Deut.€xx.€7,€xxii.€29;€Hos.€ii.€19-20).€The€mohar€may€be€in€the€formŠ h+ō#' Šof€service€in€the€field€or€in€war€(Gen.€xxix.;€I€Sam.€xviii.€25).€Probably€it€wasŠ t Šcustomary,€even€in€early€times,€to€give€the€bride€some€portion€of€the€mohar,€or€at€leastŠ `ģ Što€give€her€€presents€(Gen.€xxiv.€53,€xxxi.€15,€xxxiv.€12).€After€betrothal€the€brideŠ L Ų Šmight€be€taken€to€her€husbandššs€house€and€the€nuptials€celebrated€either€immediatelyŠ 8 Ä Šor€later€(Gen.€xxiv.€49-67;€Judges€xiv.€5€et€seq.).€The€initial€steps,€it€appears,€wereŠ $ ° Šcustomarily€taken€by€the€parents€of€the€suitor,€who€formally€made€the€proposal€(Gen.Š  œ Šxxiv.,€xxxiv.€4-6;€Judges€xiv.€2,€10).€Not€infrequently,€however,€in€the€comparativelyŠ ü ˆ Šfree€social€intercourse€of€those€days,€the€young€man€and€woman€had€met€and€formedŠ č t Ša€mutual€attachment€resulting€in€a€love-match€(Gen.€xxix.€9-12,€18;€I€Sam.€xviii.€20,Š Ō` Š28).ŠĄL !! Šą8  ąą ` ąThe€bride€did€not€always€go€to€her€husband€empty-handed.€Sometimes€sheŠ ¬8  Šreceived€gifts€from€her€father,€and€a€kingššs€parting€gift€to€his€daughter€was€in€one€caseŠ ˜$  Ša€conquered€city€(Josh.€xv.€16€et€seq.;€Judges€I.€12€et€seq.;€I.€Kings€ix.€16).€InŠ „  Špost-exilic€times€mention€is€made€of€a€wifeššs€dowry€and€of€a€woman€being€able,€byŠ pü  Šher€own€wealth,€to€support€her€husband€(Tobit€viii.€21;€Ecclus€[Sirach]€xxv.€22).Š \č  ŠMention€is€made€also€of€a€written€marriage-contract€(Tobit€vii.€14).ŠHŌ !! Šą8  ąą ` ąAfter€betrothal€the€bride€was€subject€to€the€same€restrictions€as€a€wife€(Deut.Š 4Ą Šxxii.€23-24).€Of€the€marriage€ceremonial€little€is€known;€it€is€not€mentioned€at€all€inŠ  ¬ Šthe€story€of€Isaac,€while€in€that€of€Jacob€(Gen.€xxix.)€a€marriage-feast€and€a€nuptialŠ  ˜ Šweek€are€spoken€of.€The€central€features€in€later€times€were€the€wedding-processionŠ ų„ Šand€the€wedding-feast.€The€bridegroom€in€festive€attire€and€accompanied€by€hisŠ äp Šfriends€went€to€the€home€of€the€bride,€whence€she,€likewise€in€bridal€garments,€veiled,Š Š\ Šand€accompanied€by€her€companions,€was€led€to€the€house€of€his€parents€(Isa.€lxi.€10;Š ¼H ŠJudges€xiv.€10-11;€Jer.€ii.€32;€Isa.€xlix.€18;€Ps.€xlv.€8-15).€The€procession€wasŠ Ø4 Šenlivened€with€songs€by,€or€in€praise€of,€the€bride€and€bridegroom,€and€was€lighted,Š ”  Šif€in€the€evening,€by€torches€or€lamps€(Jer.€vii.€34,€xvi.€9,€xxv.€10;€I€Macc.€ix.€37-39;Š €  ŠMatt.€xxv.€1-12;€comp.€Ps.€xlv.€and€the€Canticles,€possibly€representing€suchŠ lų Šwedding-songs).€There€followed€the€nuptial€feast€in€the€house€of€the€bridegroom,€andŠ X ä Šthe€subsequent€festivities€sometimes€continued€for€several€days€(Matt.€ix.€15,€xxii.Š D!Š Š1-14;€John€ii.€1).šš€(Cited€from€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š 0"¼ Š€€Ō4‚-n€hŌŻ‚ĶOŻŌ’ŌņņŻ  ŻŌ5  Ōhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5941-exogamyóó€€ņņŌ6„ƒŌŻ‚ĶO˜ƒd€maŻóóŌ’ŌŻ  ŻŌ7n€ŒʃŌ[The€Internet€EditionŠ #Ø ŠOf€The€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia])Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpt#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌņ ņó óŠ$”!! ŠĢą  ąThis€Jewish€custom€of€betrothal€and/or€espousal€is€much€more€binding€than€its€GentileŠ ą%l! Šcounterpart€of€š šengagementšš€which€can€be€broken€without€a€decree€of€any€court€system€though€it€mayŠ Ģ&X" Šsometimes€have€some€civil€consequences.€An€engagement€is€a€commitment€by€two€individuals€ofŠ ø'D # Šopposite€sex€to€marry€one€another€at€some€point€in€time.€Typically,€it€is€not€a€legally€bindingŠ ¤(0!$ Šcommitment€and€can€be€broken€at€will.Š )"% Šū’’dūą  ąü’’düUnder€Jewish€law,€a€man€and€a€woman€can€be€considered€to€be€husband€and€wife€withoutŠ |*#& Šhaving€ever€been€married.€It€exists€in€a€state€of€espousal€or€betrothal.€That€condition€was€legal€underŠ h+ō#' ŠJewish€law€and€right€and€holy€in€Godššs€eyes.€However,€the€opposite€condition€also€exists€because€ofŠ t Šmanššs€wickedness.€What€we€mean€is€that€a€man€and€a€woman€could€be€married,€but€not€be€husbandŠ `ģ Šand€wife€in€Godššs€eyes€or€legally€under€manššs€laws.€We€will€use€a€€New€Testament€case€of€adulteryŠ L Ų Šand€bigamy€to€prove€this€point.€According€to€Mark€6:17„18€a€man€can€be€married€to€a€woman€andŠ 8 Ä Šher€not€be€his€wife€.€These€verses€say:Š $ ° Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąMark€6:17„18Š ü ˆ Šņņ17€óóFor€Herod€himself€had€sent€forth€and€laid€hold€upon€John,€and€bound€him€in€prisonŠ č t Šfor€Herodiasšš€sake,€his€brother€Philipššs€wife:€for€he€had€married€her.€ņņ18€óóFor€John€hadŠ Ō` Šsaid€unto€Herod,€It€is€not€lawful€for€thee€to€have€thy€brotherššs€wife.ū’’dūŠĄL !! Šü’’düĢWhat€these€verses€indicate€is€that€though€Herod€was€married€to€Herodias€through€a€sexualŠ ˜$  Šrelationship,€he€could€not€scripturally€be€her€husband€because€she€was€scripturally€married€to€HerodššsŠ „  Šbrother€Philip.€What€we€have€here€is€a€case€of€adultery€and€bigamy€on€the€part€of€Herod€and€Herodias.šŠ pü  ŠAdultery€and€fornication€are€a€violation€of€Godššs€law€and€being€married€to€another€person€while€youŠ \č  Šare€still€legally€married€to€yet€another€person€is€bigamy€according€to€manššs€law€in€some€nations.€WeŠ HŌ  Šhave€a€similar€situation€with€the€woman€at€the€well€who€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€was€dealing€with€inŠ 4Ą ŠJohn€4:16„18€which€says:Š  ¬ ŠĢą8  ąJohn€4:16„18Š ų„ Šņņ16€óóJesus€saith€unto€her,€Go,€call€thy€husband,€and€come€hither.€ņņ17€óóThe€woman€answeredŠ äp Šand€said,€I€have€no€husband.€Jesus€said€unto€her,€Thou€hast€well€said,€I€have€noŠ Š\ Šhusband:€ņņ18€óóFor€thou€hast€had€five€husbands;€and€he€whom€thou€now€hast€is€not€thyŠ ¼H Šhusband:€in€that€saidst€thou€truly.ŠØ4!! ŠĢIn€commenting€on€these€verses,€Pastor€Robert€Sargent€had€this€to€say:Š €  ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąš šA€formal€(legal)€covenanted€agreement€by€ņņitself€óódoes€not€constitute€aŠ X ä Šmarriage.€(This€is€the€Roman€Catholic€[sacramental]€position,€that€a€man€and€aŠ D!Š Šwoman€are€joined€together€by€God€at€the€altar€with€the€priest.)€A€physical€relationshipŠ 0"¼ Šņņalone€óódoes€not€constitute€a€marriage.€If€this€were€the€case€there€would€be€no€suchŠ #Ø Šthing€as€adultery€or€fornication!€Note€what€Jesus€said€to€the€woman€in€ņņJohn€4:18€óóš!š€theŠ $” Šman€she€was€ššliving€withšš€was€not€her€husband.€See€also:€ņņI€Corinthians€7:2.ššóó€(PageŠ ō$€  Š49,€The€ABCs€Of€Christian€Maturity,€Volume€1,€Divorce,€by€Pastor€Robert€Sargent)Šą%l!!! ŠĢWe€quoted€Pastor€Sargent€here€because€his€viewpoint€agrees€with€that€of€many€fundamentalists.€WeŠ ø'D # Šdisagree€with€Pastor€Sargent€here€when€he€states€that€š ša€physical€relationship€ņņalone€óódoes€notŠ ¤(0!$ Šconstitute€a€marriagešš.€While€that€may€be€legally€and€traditionally€true,€it€is€not€scripturally€true.€AŠ )"% Šphysical€relationship€places€a€scriptural€obligation€upon€a€male€and€female€couple€to€live€together€asŠ |*#& Šhusband€and€wife€regardless€of€whether€any€ceremony€or€legal€documents€are€involved.€While€theŠ h+ō#' Šlegal€authorities€may€bind€upon€a€couple€a€legal€marriage,€that€legal€marriage€is€not€a€scripturalŠ t Šmarriage€until€the€two€become€one€flesh.€Furthermore,€even€under€civil€law,€common€law€marriagesŠ `ģ Šbecome€legally€binding€marriages€after€so€many€years€even€if€no€ceremony€was€performed€and€noŠ L Ų Šmarriage€license€was€ever€issued.€We€agree€with€Pastor€Robert€Sargent€that€a€formal€(legal)Š 8 Ä Šcovenanted€agreement€does€not€constitute€a€scriptural€marriage.€That€requirement€is€no€where€foundŠ $ ° Šin€the€Scriptures.€The€lack€of€physical€consummation€of€marriage€formed€the€basis€for€religiousŠ  œ Šannulments€in€times€past€which€were€not€generally€honoured€by€civil€authorities€unless€it€wasŠ ü ˆ Šaccompanied€by€a€legal€bill€of€divorce.€This€same€annulment€concept€was€recognized€in€the€ancientŠ č t Špagan€code€of€Hammurabi€which€stated€that:€š š128.€If€a€man€take€a€woman€to€wife,€but€have€noŠ Ō` Šintercourse€with€her,€this€woman€is€no€wife€to€him.šš€The€same€is€true€today€also.€If€a€š šlegalšš€husbandŠ ĄL  Šand€wife€do€not€become€married€to€one€another€an€annulment€can€be€sought€in€many€states€were€theŠ ¬8  Šš šlegalšš€marriage€is€declared€null€and€void.€Many€of€those€who€state€that€a€physical€relationship€aloneŠ ˜$  Šdoes€not€constitute€a€marriage€argue€that€there€must€be€an€intent€to€become€husband€and€wife.€ThatŠ „  Šis€not€what€the€Bible€says.€The€Biblical€standard€says€that€if€you€become€one€flesh€with€an€individual,Š pü  Šthen€your€actions€announce€to€God€that€it€is€your€intent€to€be€husband€and€wife.€In€the€Scriptures,€ifŠ \č  Šyou€enter€into€a€physical€relationship,€you€have€established€a€de€facto€covenant€as€husband€and€wife.Š HŌ  ŠTurn€in€your€Bibles€to€Exodus€22:16€and€Deuteronomy€22:28„29€where€we€read:Š 4Ą ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpք#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌExodus€22:16Š  ˜ Šņņ16€óóAnd€if€a€man€entice€a€maid€that€is€not€betrothed,€and€lie€with€her,€he€shall€surelyŠ ų„ Šendow€her€to€be€his€wife.Šäp!! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpyž#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌDeuteronomy€22:28„29Š ¼H Šņņ28€óóIf€a€man€find€a€damsel€that€is€a€virgin,€which€is€not€betrothed,€and€lay€hold€on€her,Š Ø4 Šand€lie€with€her,€and€they€be€found;€ņņ29€óóThen€the€man€that€lay€with€her€shall€give€untoŠ ”  Šthe€damselššs€father€fifty€shekels€of€silver,€and€she€shall€be€his€wife;€because€he€hathŠ €  Šhumbled€her,€he€may€not€put€her€away€all€his€days.Šlų!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäp“Ÿ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢą  ąThere€is€no€betrothal,€no€espousal,€no€altar,€and€no€ceremony€involved€in€Exodus€22:16€orŠ D!Š ŠDeuteronomy€22:28„29.€According€to€Exodus€22:16,€when€a€man€lies€carnally€with€a€woman€he€mustŠ 0"¼ Šendow€her€to€be€his€wife.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp£”#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌWhere€no€betrothal€exists,€Deuteronomy€22:29€says€that€if€a€man€and€aŠ #Ø Šwoman€are€found€lying€together,€then€the€woman€shall€be€the€manššs€wife€and€he€can€never€divorceŠ $” Šher.€There€is€no€intent€to€become€husband€and€wife€here€because€from€the€context€it€can€beŠ ō$€  Šemphatically€implied€that€they€thought€they€were€getting€by€with€something.€In€other€words,€they€wereŠ ą%l! Šhaving€š šcasual€sexšš.€They€may€have€thought€it€was€š šcasual€sexšš,€but€God€considers€it€to€be€a€binding,Š Ģ&X" Šlifetime€marriage€though€there€is€no€intent€to€become€husband€and€wife.€In€western€culture,€ourŠ ø'D # Šconscious€has€become€so€seared€by€a€constant€bombardment€of€in€your€face€sex€that€we€no€longerŠ ¤(0!$ Šlook€upon€sexual€intercourse€as€being€the€act€of€marriage€that€God€says€it€is.€Many€so„called€ChristianŠ )"% Šleaders€and€pastors€have€become€so€spiritually€blinded€by€a€constant€diet€of€sex€from€their€televisionsŠ |*#& Šthat€they€dismiss€what€God€calls€a€marriage€as€being€mere€pre„marital€sex.ą  ąŠ h+ō#' Šą  ąNow,€letššs€go€back€to€the€woman€at€the€well.€The€reason€the€man€living€with€the€women€atŠ t Šthe€well€was€not€called€her€husband€is€because€he€was€married€to€another€woman.€This€was€the€sameŠ `ģ Štype€of€situation€that€John€the€Baptist€rebuked€Herod€for!€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€did€not€say€that€theŠ L Ų Šwoman€at€the€well€had€not€married€the€man€she€was€with€at€this€time.€He€said€that€the€man€she€wasŠ 8 Ä Šwith€at€this€time€was€not€her€husband.€It€is€obvious€that€she€was€having€a€sexual€relationship€with€aŠ $ ° Šman€that€was€not€her€husband,€but€was€instead€the€husband€of€another€woman.€The€woman€at€the€wellŠ  œ Šwas€married€to€him,€but€she€was€not€his€wife.€The€woman€at€the€well€was€guilty€of€fornication€andŠ ü ˆ Šadultery€because€she€was€having€sex€with€another€womanššs€husband.€She€had€married€him€in€theŠ č t Šsame€sense€as€Herod€had€married€Philipššs€wife€Herodias,€but€she€could€not€scripturally€have€him€asŠ Ō` Šher€husband€just€as€Herod€could€not€scripturally€have€Herodias€as€his€wife€though€they€were€married.Š ĄL  ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpķ¢#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌMany€preachers€and€teachers€teach€that€a€husband€or€wife€cannot€be€guilty€of€fornication€which€is€aŠ ¬8  Šcontradiction€of€Matthew€19:8€where€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€said€a€wife€can€be€guilty€of€fornication.Š ˜$  ŠMany€Independent€Baptist€preachers,€pastors,€and€teachers€teach€that€fornication€only€applies€toŠ „  Špremarital€sex.€Again,€that€teaching€contradicts€Matthew€19:8€and€for€that€reason€we€reject€thatŠ pü  Šteaching.€The€idea€that€a€married€person€cannot€be€guilty€of€fornication€also€contradicts€Ezekiel€16Š \č  Šwere€a€case€of€adultery€is€referred€to€as€fornication€in€three€different€verses.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäph¬#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€We€believe€one€of€theŠ HŌ  Šreasons€the€penalty€for€adultery€and€fornication€in€the€Old€Testament€was€death€is€because€God€didŠ 4Ą Šconsider€the€consummation€of€a€sexual€relationship€as€establishing€a€marriage€covenant.€One€of€theŠ  ¬ Šscriptural€proofs€of€that€statement€is€located€in€Deuteronomy€22:28„29.€We€would€also€note€that€theŠ  ˜ ŠLord€Jesus€Christ€said€to€the€woman€at€the€well:€š šthou€hast€had€five€husbandsšš.€What€we€can€gatherŠ ų„ Šfrom€that€is€that€she€had€five€men€who€were€no€longer€her€husbands.€Note€that€š šHAST€HADšš€is€inŠ äp Šthe€past€tense.€Also€note€that€she€had€remarried€which€means€that€all€of€the€divorces€she€had€wereŠ Š\ Šlegal€under€the€law€š!š€Deuteronomy€24:1„2€š!š€else€she€would€have€been€stoned€to€death€under€theŠ ¼H ŠMosaic€Law€š!š€Deuteronomy€22:22.€).€What€that€means€is€that€she€had€a€legal€bill€of€divorce.€WhenŠ Ø4 Šthe€Lord€Jesus€Christ€stated€š šthou€hast€had€five€husbandsšš,€it€put€to€bed€the€doctrine€that€states€thatŠ ”  Šonce€you€are€married€to€someone€that€you€can€never€divorce€them.€Ō#†XäpXX2XäpMÆ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌWhat€that€also€means€is€that€whenŠ €  Šsomeone€divorces€someone€then€that€person€is€no€longer€considered€to€be€their€spouse€(thou€hast€had).Š lų ŠThat€means€that€they€have€zero€husbands€and€zero€wives€until€such€time€as€they€remarry.€AccordingŠ X ä Što€Matthew€19:9,€if€a€person€is€scripturally€divorced,€then€they€are€not€guilty€of€adultery€and€thereforeŠ D!Š Šcannot€be€guilty€of€perpetual€adultery.Š 0"¼ Šą  ąWe€are€not€trying€to€degrade€the€scriptural€husband€and€wife€relationship€to€a€mere€act€ofŠ #Ø Šsexual€intercourse,€but€we€are€trying€to€impress€upon€our€readers€how€seriously€God€views€acts€ofŠ $” Šsexual€intercourse€that€have€not€the€intent€to€become€husband€and€wife.€If€you€have€an€act€of€sexualŠ ō$€  Šintercourse€with€someone€then€you€impose€upon€yourself€the€scriptural€obligation€to€make€them€yourŠ ą%l! Šspouse.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp@“#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ Ģ&X" Šą  ąAgain,€in€its€first€use€in€our€Bibles€the€word€marry€occurs€in€Genesis€38:8€where€its€obviousŠ ø'D # Šdefinition€is€to€go€in€unto€for€the€purpose€of€producing€seed.€It€is€also€clear€from€the€context€ofŠ ¤(0!$ ŠMatthew€19:3„9€that€the€definition€of€marry€is€to€become€one€flesh€with€someone€of€the€opposite€sex.Š )"% ŠFurthermore,€it€is€clear€from€the€context€of€1€Corinthians€7:9€that€a€person€was€to€marry€rather€thanŠ |*#& Što€continue€to€burn€in€lust€for€another€person.€It€is€obvious€from€the€context€of€1€Corinthians€7:9€thatŠ h+ō#' Ša€ceremony€is€not€being€referred€to,€but€the€act€of€becoming€one€flesh.€First€Timothy€5:14€instructsŠ t Šthe€younger€women€to€marry€for€the€purpose€of€bearing€and€raising€children.Š `ģ Šņ ņó óą  ąThough€the€first€marriage€is€unique€in€nature,€it€does€provide€us€with€some€instruction€as€toŠ L Ų Šwhat€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage.€Turn€in€your€Bibles€to€Genesis€chapter€2€where€we€see:Š 8 Ä ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€2:20„25Š  œ Š20€And€Adam€gave€names€to€all€cattle,€and€to€the€fowl€of€the€air,€and€to€every€beastŠ ü ˆ Šof€the€field;€but€for€Adam€there€was€not€found€an€help€meet€for€him.€21€And€theŠ č t ŠLORD€God€caused€a€deep€sleep€to€fall€upon€Adam,€and€he€slept:€and€he€took€one€ofŠ Ō` Šhis€ribs,€and€closed€up€the€flesh€instead€thereof;€22€And€the€rib,€which€the€LORD€GodŠ ĄL  Šhad€taken€from€man,€made€he€a€woman,€and€brought€her€unto€the€man.€23€And€AdamŠ ¬8  Šsaid,€This€is€now€bone€of€my€bones,€and€flesh€of€my€flesh:€she€shall€be€called€Woman,Š ˜$  Šbecause€she€was€taken€out€of€Man.€24€Therefore€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€hisŠ „  Šmother,€and€shall€cleave€unto€his€wife:€and€they€shall€be€one€flesh.€25€And€they€wereŠ pü  Šboth€naked,€the€man€and€his€wife,€and€were€not€ashamed.Š\č !! ŠĢą  ąYou€never€see€anyone€at€a€marriage€altar€in€the€Scriptures.€Marriage€is€much€more€than€aŠ 4Ą Šceremony.€A€ceremony€is€nothing€more€than€words.€Marriage€is€a€lifetime€of€walking€what€you€talkedŠ  ¬ Šat€a€ceremony.€We€do€not€see€a€formal€wedding€ceremony€anywhere€in€the€Scriptures.€In€fact,€you€canŠ  ˜ Šlie€down€without€a€ceremony€and€become€one€flesh€and€live€happily€ever€after€as€husband€and€wifeŠ ų„ Šand€it€be€perfectly€pleasing€unto€God.€You€must€be€warned€that€if€you€lie€down€with€a€woman€andŠ äp Šbecome€one€flesh€with€her€you€are€under€an€obligation€to€God€to€take€her€in€as€your€wife.€God€doesŠ Š\ Šnot€take€sexual€relationships€as€lightly€as€men€do€and€as€lightly€as€many€fundamentalist€preachers€do.Š ¼H ŠThe€proof€of€that€is€that€many€fundamentalists€will€get€livid€when€we€say€that€having€a€sexualŠ Ø4 Šrelationship€is€marriage€in€the€eyes€of€God.€Many€see€it€as€nothing€more€than€an€illicit€sexual€affairŠ ”  Šthat€is€nothing€more€than€a€one„night€stand.€€It€is€much€more€serious€than€a€one„night€stand.€It€is€aŠ €  Šmarriage€in€Godššs€eyes€and€in€the€eyes€of€the€Scriptures.€What€many€compromised€and€fornicatingŠ lų Šš šfundamentalistšš€preachers€of€today€call€pre„marital€sex,€would€have€resulted€in€a€public€outcry€overŠ X ä Ša€hundred€years€ago€and€would€have€led€to€what€we€called€a€š šshotgun€weddingšš.€OurŠ D!Š Šš šfundamentalistšš€preachers,€teachers,€and€pastors€need€to€get€their€heads€out€of€the€sewer€ofŠ 0"¼ Štelevision,€the€cesspool€of€the€internet,€and€the€outhouses€and€toilets€€of€their€cell€phones€and€startŠ #Ø Šstudying€and€boldly€preaching€the€Word€Of€God.€Many€of€our€š šfundamentalistsšš€of€today€haveŠ $” Šbecome€as€the€prophets€of€Judah€in€Jeremiah€8:10„12€which€declares:Š ō$€  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2XäpKø#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌJeremiah€8:10„12Š Ģ&X" Šņņ10€óóTherefore€will€I€give€their€wives€unto€others,€and€their€fields€to€them€that€shallŠ ø'D # Šinherit€them:€for€every€one€from€the€least€even€unto€the€greatest€is€given€toŠ ¤(0!$ Šcovetousness,€from€the€prophet€even€unto€the€priest€every€one€dealeth€falsely.€ņņ11€óóForŠ )"% Šthey€have€healed€the€hurt€of€the€daughter€of€my€people€slightly,€saying,€Peace,€peace;Š |*#& Šwhen€there€is€no€peace.€ņņ12€óóWere€they€ashamed€when€they€had€committed€abomination?Š h+ō#' Šnay,€they€were€not€at€all€ashamed,€neither€could€they€blush:€therefore€shall€they€fallŠ t Šamong€them€that€fall:€in€the€time€of€their€visitation€they€shall€be€cast€down,€saith€theŠ `ģ ŠLORD.ŠL Ų!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpxČ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢThe€reason€our€š šfundamentalistšš€preachers€and€pastors€can€no€longer€blush€is€because€the€light€of€theŠ $ ° ŠHoly€Ghost€has€become€so€darkened€by€the€Satanic€sewage€that€they€feed€themselves€from€theirŠ  œ Štelevisions,€radios,€computers,€and€cell€phones.€They€can€no€longer€preach€the€word€of€God€with€anyŠ ü ˆ Šconviction€because€the€blackness€of€their€hearts€has€grieved€the€Holy€Ghost.€Neither€do€they€view€theŠ č t Šsin€of€fornication€as€seriously€as€God€does.€Would€to€God€that€our€so„called€fundamentalist€preachersŠ Ō` Šand€pastors€had€the€attitude€of€Ezra€the€priest€when€he€said€in€Ezra€9:6„7:ą  ąŠ ĄL  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2XäpõĖ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌEzra€9:6„7Š ˜$  Šņņ6€óóAnd€said,€O€my€God,€I€am€ashamed€and€blush€to€lift€up€my€face€to€thee,€my€God:€forŠ „  Šour€iniquities€are€increased€over€our€head,€and€our€trespass€is€grown€up€unto€theŠ pü  Šheavens.€ņņ7€óóSince€the€days€of€our€fathers€have€we€been€in€a€great€trespass€unto€this€day;Š \č  Šand€for€our€iniquities€have€we,€our€kings,€and€our€priests,€been€delivered€into€the€handŠ HŌ  Šof€the€kings€of€the€lands,€to€the€sword,€to€captivity,€and€to€a€spoil,€and€to€confusion€ofŠ 4Ą Šface,€as€it€is€this€day.Ō#†XäpXX XäpĻ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ ¬!! ŠĢņ ņą  ąó óŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp¬Ń#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌFornication€and€adultery€make€a€fundamentalist€no€less€disqualified€to€be€in€the€pulpit€thanŠ ų„ Ša€man€who€has€had€a€divorce€that€he€has€caused.€However,€we€do€believe€that€the€Devil€has€takenŠ äp Šmany€innocent€men€from€our€pulpits€whose€divorces€were€no€fault€of€their€own.€We€also€believe€thatŠ Š\ Šthe€Devil€has€used€many€fundamentalist,€self„righteous€hypocrites€to€accomplish€that€which€rightlyŠ ¼H Šdividing€the€Scriptures€could€not€have€done.€Now,€letššs€get€back€to€the€study€at€hand.Š Ø4 Šą  ąAdam€is€the€only€man€to€ever€live€that€can€literally€say€that€his€wife€is€literally€bone€of€hisŠ ”  Šbones€and€literally€flesh€of€his€flesh.€Again€applying€the€law€of€first€mention,€Genesis€2:20„25€givesŠ €  ŠGodššs€definition€of€what€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage,€a€husband,€and€a€wife€and€in€keeping€withŠ lų Šthe€law€of€first€mention€that€definition€remains€the€same€throughout€the€Bible.€God€says€that€a€manŠ X ä Šand€a€woman€become€husband€and€wife€when€they€become€one€flesh.€I€know€that€does€not€sit€veryŠ D!Š Šwell€with€many€Baptists€and€fundamentalists,€but€that€is€what€the€Bible€teaches.€Many€will€argue€thatŠ 0"¼ Šthat€is€not€the€whole€counsel€of€God,€but€they€will€be€pressed€beyond€measure€if€they€try€to€prove€thatŠ #Ø Šthe€Author€of€the€Scriptures€considered€marriage€to€be€anything€but€becoming€one€flesh.€WeŠ $” Šunderstand€that€becoming€husband€and€wife,€or€becoming€one€flesh,€binds€certain€spiritualŠ ō$€  Šresponsibilities€upon€both€the€husband€and€wife€so€that€the€marriage€is€not€just€a€physical€relationship.Š ą%l! ŠWe€will€prove€scripturally€that€when€a€man€consummates€a€sexual€relationship€with€a€woman€thatŠ Ģ&X" Šhe€is€scripturally€bound€to€make€that€woman€his€wife!€It€is€that€sexual€relationship€that€makes€themŠ ø'D # Šņņņ ņone€fleshóóó ó.€It€is€the€sexual€act€that€creates€the€obligation€for€the€couple€to€become€husband€and€wife.Š ¤(0!$ ŠWhat€you€do€not€see€in€Genesis€chapter€2€is€a€ceremony,€an€altar,€a€marriage€license,€a€priest,€a€justiceŠ ”) "% Šof€the€peace,€or€any€formal€covenant.€ņ ņó óYet,€God€said€that€they€were€husband€and€wife.€ņ ņó óThat€pattern€isŠ €* #& Šrepeated€throughout€the€book€of€Genesis€(and€the€Old€Testament)€and€includes€the€marriages€ofŠ l+ų#' ŠLamech,€Abraham,€Isaac,€€Jacob,€and€even€Absalom€when€he€went€in€unto€his€father€Davidššs€tenŠ t Šconcubines€(!).€Lamech€was€of€the€seed€of€Cain€and€was€the€first€polygynist€(polygamist)€recordedŠ `ģ Šin€the€Bible.€That€is€instructive€in€itself.€€The€only€place€where€a€covenant€is€mentioned€in€the€contextŠ L Ų Šof€marriage€is€in€Malachi€2:11„16€where€there€is€a€reference€to€Genesis€2:24€in€verse€15.€These€versesŠ 8 Ä Šread:Š $ ° ŠĢą8  ąMalachi€2:11„16Š ü ˆ Šņņ11€óóJudah€hath€dealt€treacherously,€and€an€abomination€is€committed€in€Israel€and€inŠ č t ŠJerusalem;€for€Judah€hath€profaned€the€holiness€of€the€LORD€which€he€loved,€andŠ Ō` Šhath€married€the€daughter€of€a€strange€god.€ņņ12€óóThe€LORD€will€cut€off€the€man€thatŠ ĄL  Šdoeth€this,€the€master€and€the€scholar,€out€of€the€tabernacles€of€Jacob,€and€him€thatŠ ¬8  Šoffereth€an€offering€unto€the€LORD€of€hosts.€ņņ13€óóAnd€this€have€ye€done€again,€coveringŠ ˜$  Šthe€altar€of€the€LORD€with€tears,€with€weeping,€and€with€crying€out,€insomuch€thatŠ „  Šhe€regardeth€not€the€offering€any€more,€or€receiveth€it€with€good€will€at€your€hand.€ņņ14Š pü  ŠóóYet€ye€say,€Wherefore?€Because€the€LORD€hath€been€witness€between€thee€and€theŠ \č  Šwife€of€thy€youth,€against€whom€thou€hast€dealt€treacherously:€yet€is€she€thyŠ HŌ  Šcompanion,€and€the€wife€of€thy€covenant.€ņņ15€óóAnd€did€not€he€make€one?€Yet€had€he€theŠ 4Ą Šresidue€of€the€spirit.€And€wherefore€one?€That€he€might€seek€a€godly€seed.€ThereforeŠ  ¬ Štake€heed€to€your€spirit,€and€let€none€deal€treacherously€against€the€wife€of€his€youth.Š  ˜ Šņņ16€óóFor€the€LORD,€the€God€of€Israel,€saith€that€he€hateth€putting€away:€for€one€coverethŠ ų„ Šviolence€with€his€garment,€saith€the€LORD€of€hosts:€therefore€take€heed€to€your€spirit,Š äp Šthat€ye€deal€not€treacherously.ŠŠ\!! ŠĢWhile€many€believe€that€Proverbs€2:17€refers€to€a€covenant€of€marriage€for€the€woman€also,€we€doŠ Ø4 Šnot.€€We€believe€it€refers€to€female€prostitutes€that€hung€out€around€the€pagan€temples€just€as€theŠ ”  Šdaughters€of€a€strange€god€here€in€Malachi€refer€to€the€same€type€of€female€temple€prostitutes.€WeŠ €  Šbelieve€that€context€in€Proverbs€2:17€dictates€a€foreign€woman€who€has€broken€her€covenant€ofŠ lų Šallegiance€to€God.€Here€in€Malachi€2:11,€the€men€of€Judah€were€a€whoring€around€on€their€wives€withŠ X ä Štemple€prostitutes€and€marrying€them.€Let€us€continue€with€the€covenant€described€in€Malachi€2.Š D!Š Šą  ąWe€would€even€go€so€far€as€to€state€that€we€believe€that€the€Scriptures€teach€that€it€is€theŠ 0"¼ Šsexual€act€that€establishes€the€covenant€relationship€between€a€man€and€a€woman€making€themŠ #Ø Šhusband€and€wife.€€THE€LORD€JESUS€CHRIST€HIMSELF€CALLED€MARRIAGE€THEŠ $” ŠPHYSICAL€ACT€IN€MATTHEW€19:4„6.€From€the€context€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp Ņ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌit€is€clear€from€the€statements€of€the€LordŠ ō$€  ŠJesus€Christ€that€no€ceremony€was€in€view,€but€rather€the€act€of€fornication€by€the€wife.€That€sexualŠ ą%l! Šact€is€quite€different€from€a€ceremony.€It€is€not€the€performance€of€another€ceremony€that€constitutesŠ Ģ&X" Šthe€act€of€adultery,€but€rather€the€sexual€act.€The€word€š šcovenantšš€occurs€in€the€immediate€contextŠ ø'D # Šof€becoming€one€flesh€in€Malachi€2:14„15.€The€only€other€place€that€a€covenant€is€mentioned€in€theŠ ¤(0!$ Šcontext€of€marriage€and€divorce€is€in€Ezra€10:2„3€which€states:Š )"% ŠĢŠ h+ō#' Šą  ąEzra€10:2„3€Š t Šą8  ą2€And€Shechaniah€the€son€of€Jehiel,ņņ€oneóó€of€the€sons€of€Elam,€answered€and€said€untoŠ `ģ ŠEzra,€We€have€trespassed€against€our€God,€and€have€taken€strange€wives€of€the€peopleŠ L Ų Šof€the€land:€yet€now€there€is€hope€in€Israel€concerning€this€thing.€3€Now€therefore€letŠ 8 Ä Šus€make€a€covenant€with€our€God€to€put€away€all€the€wives,€and€such€as€are€born€ofŠ $ ° Šthem,€according€to€the€counsel€of€my€lord,€and€of€those€that€tremble€at€theŠ  œ Šcommandment€of€our€God;€and€let€it€be€done€according€to€the€law.Šü ˆ!! ŠĢą  ąNote€that€the€covenant€was€a€covenant€of€divorce€between€the€priests€and€God€to€put€awayŠ Ō` Š(divorce)€the€strange€wives€they€had€taken€from€outside€the€God€ordained€confines€of€the€people€ofŠ ĄL  ŠIsrael.€Š ¬8  Šą  ąSeveral€passages€of€Scripture€supporting€the€conclusion€that€it€is€the€sexual€act€that€establishesŠ ˜$  Ša€covenant€relationship€are€Genesis€38:8„9,€Deuteronomy€21:13,€Deuteronomy€22:28„29,Š „  ŠDeuteronomy€25:5,€Exodus€22:16,€and€1€Chronicles€2:21.€Genesis€38:8„9€says:Š pü  ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€38:8„9Š HŌ  Šņņ8€óóAnd€Judah€said€unto€Onan,€Go€in€unto€thy€brotherššs€wife,€and€marry€her,€and€raiseŠ 4Ą Šup€seed€to€thy€brother.€ņņ9€óóAnd€Onan€knew€that€the€seed€should€not€be€his;€and€it€cameŠ  ¬ Što€pass,€when€he€went€in€unto€his€brotherššs€wife,€that€he€spilled€it€on€the€ground,€lestŠ  ˜ Šthat€he€should€give€seed€to€his€brother.Šų„!! ŠĢNote€that€Onan€was€instructed€to€marry€his€brotherššs€wife€for€the€purpose€of€producing€seed.€NoteŠ Š\ Šalso€that€the€sexual€act€was€referred€to€as€a€ņ ņņņmarriageóó.ó ó€There€is€no€ceremony€and€no€marriage€licenseŠ ¼H Šhere.€Deuteronomy€21:13€says:Š ¬8 ŠĢą8  ąņņ13€óóAnd€she€shall€put€the€raiment€of€her€captivity€from€off€her,€and€shall€remain€in€thineŠ „ Šhouse,€and€bewail€her€father€and€her€mother€a€full€month:€and€after€that€thou€shalt€goŠ pü Šin€unto€her,€and€be€her€husband,€and€she€shall€be€thy€wife.Š\ č!! ŠĢThe€act€of€š šņņgoing€in€unto€heró󚚀is€a€sexual€act€that€establishes€the€husband€and€wife€relationship.€ThereŠ 4"Ą Šwas€no€ceremony,€priest,€or€marriage€altar€involved€here.€Deuteronomy€22:28„29€reads:€€Š  #¬ ŠĢą8  ąDeuteronomy€22:28„29€Šų$„ !! Šą8  ą28€If€a€man€find€a€damselņņ€that€isóó€a€virgin,€which€is€not€betrothed,€and€lay€hold€on€her,Š ä%p! Šand€lie€with€her,€and€they€be€found;€29€Then€the€man€that€lay€with€her€shall€give€untoŠ Š&\" Šthe€damselššs€father€fiftyņņ€shekelsóó€of€silver,€and€she€shall€be€his€wife;€because€he€hathŠ ¼'H # Šhumbled€her,€he€may€not€put€her€away€all€his€days.ŠØ(4!$!! ŠĢIn€verses€28€and€29,€it€is€the€act€of€š šlying€with€heršš€that€creates€the€scriptural€requirement€that€theyŠ €* #& Šbecome€husband€and€wife.€This€particular€passage€shows€how€serious€God€takes€what€man€might€callŠ l+ų#' Ša€casual€sexual€relationship.€It€is€clear€from€the€context€that€neither€individual€involved€in€this€sexualŠ t Šact€intended€on€becoming€husband€and€wife.€They€just€got€caught€and€God€commanded€the€man€toŠ `ģ Štake€the€woman€for€his€wife€with€the€additional€condition€that€he€could€never€divorce€her€(put€herŠ L Ų Šaway).While€many€say€that€the€sexual€act€is€but€a€consummation€of€the€marriage,€this€passage€andŠ 8 Ä Šmany€more€before€and€after€it€see€the€sexual€act€as€establishing€the€husband€and€wife€relationship€andŠ $ ° Šnot€merely€as€the€consummation€of€it.€€Deuteronomy€25:5€states:Š  œ ŠĢą8  ąDeuteronomy€25:5Š č t Šņņ5€óóIf€brethren€dwell€together,€and€one€of€them€die,€and€have€no€child,€the€wife€of€theŠ Ō` Šdead€shall€not€marry€without€unto€a€stranger:€her€husbandššs€brother€shall€go€in€untoŠ ĄL  Šher,€and€take€her€to€him€to€wife,€and€perform€the€duty€of€an€husbandššs€brother€untoŠ ¬8  Šher.Š˜$ !! ŠĢThis€is€the€law€of€the€kinsman€redeemer€that€is€sometimes€referred€to€as€the€levirate€marriage.€NoteŠ pü  Šthat€the€living€brother€was€to€marry€the€dead€brotherššs€wife,€and€take€her€to€him€to€wife€for€theŠ \č  Špurpose€of€producing€children.€It€was€the€sexual€relationship€that€established€her€as€the€livingŠ HŌ  Šbrotherššs€wife.€Deuteronomy€25:5€is€quoted€in€Matthew€22:24€(also€in€Mark€12:19€and€Luke€20:28)Š 4Ą Šwhen€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€is€dealing€with€the€Sadducees€about€the€resurrection.€€We€would€note€thatŠ  ¬ Šthis€commandment€had€to€be€obeyed€regardless€of€whether€the€brother€in€the€role€of€kinsmanŠ  ˜ Šredeemer€was€already€married.€Note€again€that€the€purpose€of€the€marriage€was€to€produce€seed.€ThisŠ ų„ Šsame€idea€that€is€conveyed€in€Deuteronomy€22:28„29€is€established€in€Exodus€22:16€where€we€see:Š äp ŠĢą8  ąExodus€22:16Š¼H!! Šą8  ą16€And€if€a€man€entice€a€maid€that€is€not€betrothed,€and€lie€with€her,€he€shall€surelyŠ Ø4 Šendow€her€to€be€his€wife.Š” !! ŠĢThe€phrase€š šlie€with€heršš€means€that€he€has€had€a€sexual€relationship€with€her.€Clearly€Exodus€22:16Š lų Šstates€that€because€the€man€has€had€a€sexual€relationship€with€the€maid€he€must€take€care€of€her€asŠ X ä Šhis€wife€[Implying€that€since€he€had€already€married€her€in€the€sexual€relationship,€he€must€take€careŠ D!Š Šof€her€as€his€wife].€Yet€again€we€see€this€same€principle€illustrated€in€1€Chronicles€2:21€which€tellsŠ 0"¼ Šus:Š #Ø ŠĢą8  ą1€Chronicles€2:21Š ō$€  Šņņ21€óóAnd€afterward€Hezron€went€in€to€the€daughter€of€Machir€the€father€of€Gilead,€whomŠ ą%l! Šhe€married€when€he€was€threescore€years€old;€and€she€bare€him€Segub.ŠĢ&X"!! Šņ ņó óĢOnce€again€it€was€the€sexual€relationship€that€established€the€condition€of€the€woman€becoming€aŠ ¤(0!$ Šwife.€We€should€not€neglect€to€deal€with€the€abomination€wrought€by€Absalom€before€all€of€IsraelŠ )"% Šwhen€he€went€in€unto€Davidššs€concubines.€According€to€Leviticus€20:11,€Absalom€had€to€be€put€toŠ |*#& Šdeath€for€this€vile€act.€Absalomššs€vile€act€is€recorded€in€2€Samuel€16:21„22€which€reads:Š h+ō#' Š‡ą8  ą2€Samuel€16:21„22Š t Šņņ21€óóAnd€Ahithophel€said€unto€Absalom,€Go€in€unto€thy€fatherššs€concubines,€which€heŠ `ģ Šhath€left€to€keep€the€house;€and€all€Israel€shall€hear€that€thou€art€abhorred€of€thy€father:Š L Ų Šthen€shall€the€hands€of€all€that€are€with€thee€be€strong.€ņņ22€óóSo€they€spread€Absalom€aŠ 8 Ä Štent€upon€the€top€of€the€house;€and€Absalom€went€in€unto€his€fatherššs€concubines€inŠ $ ° Šthe€sight€of€all€Israel.Š œ!! ŠĢWe€know€from€the€events€in€2€Samuel€Chapters€17€through€19€that€Absalom€was€eventually€slainŠ č t Šwith€the€destiny€of€the€concubines€being€recorded€in€2€Samuel€20:3€where€it€is€stated:Š Ō` ŠĢą8  ą2€Samuel€20:3Š ¬8  Šņņ3€óóAnd€David€came€to€his€house€at€Jerusalem;€and€the€king€took€the€ten€women€hisŠ ˜$  Šconcubines,€whom€he€had€left€to€keep€the€house,€and€put€them€in€ward,€and€fed€them,Š „  Šbut€went€not€in€unto€them.€So€they€were€shut€up€unto€the€day€of€their€death,€living€inŠ pü  Šwidowhood.Š\č !! ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp½č#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌą  ąDavidššs€concubines€became€Absalomššs€wives€when€Absalom€went€in€unto€them€in€the€sightŠ 4Ą Šof€Israel.€There€was€no€ceremony€performed.€Neither€was€there€any€intent€to€conduct€a€ceremony.€ItŠ  ¬ Šwas€strictly€multiple€sexual€acts.€The€proof€that€they€became€Absalomššs€wives€is€contained€in€2Š  ˜ ŠSamuel€20:3€where€the€Bible€says€the€concubines€remained€in€ņņņ ņwidowhoodó óóó€until€their€deaths.€Go€readŠ ų„ Šit€yourself€in€context!€There€is€but€one€reason€that€they€lived€in€widowhood€until€their€deaths€and€thatŠ čt Šis€because€they€had€become€Absalomššs€wives.€Furthermore,€in€1€Corinthians€6:16„17,€the€Holy€GhostŠ Ō` Šconsiders€the€sexual€act€of€such€critical€importance€that€He€warns€that€if€you€sexually€join€yourselfŠ ĄL Šwith€a€harlot,€that€you€become€one€flesh€with€her.€In€other€words,€you€become€married€to€an€harlot.Š ¬8 Šņ ņó óWhat€these€passages€prove€is€that€it€is€the€sexual€union€that€creates€the€marriage!€In€1€Corinthians€6,Š ˜$ Šthe€Holy€Ghost€considered€the€sexual€relationship€with€an€harlot€to€be€a€whole€lot€more€serious€thanŠ „ Šjust€the€one€night€stand€(fornication)€that€most€once€married€fundamentalist€preachers€hold€to.€It€wasŠ pü Šnot€just€fornication.€It€was€a€marriage.€Why€do€most€fundamentalist€preachers€go€up€in€arms€whenŠ \ č Šwe€declare€a€one€night€stand€or€a€premarital€or€post€marital€affair€to€be€a€marriage??€We€can€tell€youŠ H!Ō Šwhy.€Many,€if€not€most,€of€these€š šfundamentalistšš€preachers€have€been€guilty€of€the€very€acts€that€theŠ 4"Ą ŠHoly€Ghost€describes€here.€Many€š šonce€marriedšš€preachers€are€counting€on€a€piece€of€paper€fromŠ  #¬ Šman€to€clear€themselves€to€be€able€to€pastor€and€preach.€That€piece€of€paper€is€worthless€before€GodŠ  $˜ Šbecause€many€š šonce€marriedšš€preachers€and€pastors€have€had€sex€with€women€before€they€had€aŠ ų$„  Šwedding€ceremony,€some€even€being€guilty€of€fornication€and€adultery€after€their€wedding€ceremony,Š ä%p! Šand€they€wickedly€consider€themselves€to€have€had€but€one€wife€in€a€lifetime€because€they€have€onlyŠ Š&\" Šhad€one€wedding€ceremony.€God€does€not€see€it€that€way.€You€are€just€as€guilty€as€any€divorced€manŠ ¼'H # Šever€was.€If€you€have€sex€with€any€woman,€you€are€under€the€scriptural€obligation€to€take€care€of€herŠ Ø(4!$ Šas€your€wife.€Jack€Hyles€and€Jack€Schaap€were€guilty€of€the€very€acts€described€here,€but€at€least€theyŠ ”) "% Šwere€not€divorced!€I€believe€the€Bible€term€for€them€is€whoremongers,€but€at€least€they€were€notŠ €* #& Šš šdouble€marriedšš.€€Many€godly€divorced€men€are€much€more€qualified€to€be€in€pulpits€than€those€twoŠ l+ų#' Šwhore€hopping€preachers€were.€Need€we€mention€the€abominable€conduct€of€Bob€Grey€at€TrinityŠ t ŠBaptist€of€Jacksonville,€Florida.€Yet,€he€remained€in€the€ministry€with€the€leadership€in€his€churchŠ `ģ Šbeing€aware€of€his€conduct,€but€at€least€he€was€not€divorced€or€double€married!€We€can€even€proveŠ L Ų Šthat€it€is€not€a€sin€to€have,€or€to€have€had,€more€than€one€wife€if€the€man€was€divorced€according€toŠ 8 Ä Šthe€Scriptures.€We€are€not€talking€about€living€with€multiple€wives€at€the€same€time.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp #ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ $ ° Šą  ąIf€you€have€had€multiple€sexual€relationships€with€different€women€and€if€you€preach€that€aŠ  œ Šman€who€has€multiple€wives€at€the€same€time€and€a€divorced€man€that€has€had€more€than€one€wifeŠ ü ˆ Šin€a€lifetime€are€disqualified,€then€you€need€to€sit€down€because€your€sexual€conduct€has€disqualifiedŠ č t Šyou€permanently€since€you€believe€that€there€is€no€forgiveness€for€a€man€who€has€had€multiple€wivesŠ Ō` Šin€his€lifetime.€Do€you€think€for€a€minute€that€if€David€and€Solomon€had€sex€with€a€woman€that€theyŠ ĄL  Šdid€not€make€them€their€wife??€Why€do€you€think€Solomon€and€so€many€of€the€other€kings€of€JudahŠ ¬8  Šand€Israel€had€so€many€wives?€It€is€because€they€had€sex€with€those€women€and€according€to€ExodusŠ ˜$  Š22:16€and€Deuteronomy€22:28„29€any€man€that€had€sex€with€an€unmarried€woman€was€required€toŠ „  Šmake€them€their€wife!€If€you€are€an€adulterous€and€fornicating€preacher,€pastor,€evangelist,€or€deacon,Š pü  Šdo€not€think€that€the€same€standards€do€not€apply€to€you.€Contrary€to€what€most€fundamentalists,Š \č  Šincluding€this€author,€have€been€taught,€there€was€no€specific€commandment€that€said€a€man€couldŠ HŌ  Šnot€have€more€than€one€wife.€In€fact,€the€Bible€says€in€2€Samuel€12:8€that€God€gave€Saulššs€wives€intoŠ 4Ą ŠDavidššs€bosom.€Saulššs€wives€would€have€included€Ahinoam€and€his€concubine€Rizpah€whichŠ  ¬ Šprobably€created€some€confusion€in€Davidššs€household€because€he€already€had€a€wife€namedŠ  ˜ ŠAhinoam.€We€now€turn€to€the€marriages€of€Abraham,€Isaac,€and€Jacob.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpń#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ ų„ Šą  ąWe€are€first€introduced€to€Abram€(Abraham)€in€Genesis€11:27.€Then€we€are€introduced€toŠ äp ŠAbrahamššs€wife€Sarai€(Sarah)€in€Genesis€11:29.€The€first€mention€of€Abraham€was€in€his€begetting.Š Š\ ŠThe€first€mention€of€Sarah€was€in€her€marriage€to€Abraham.€It€says€in€Genesis€11:29€that€AbrahamŠ ¼H Štook€his€wife€Sarah.€We€learn€in€verse€30€that€she€was€barren.€We€see€very€few€details€in€the€marriage€Š Ø4 Šof€Abraham€and€Sarah.€Genesis€11:27„30€tells€us:Š ”  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp #ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€11:27„30Š lų Šņņ27€óóNow€these€are€the€generations€of€Terah:€Terah€begat€Abram,€Nahor,€and€Haran;€andŠ X ä ŠHaran€begat€Lot.€ņņ28€óóAnd€Haran€died€before€his€father€Terah€in€the€land€of€his€nativity,Š D!Š Šin€Ur€of€the€Chaldees.€ņņ29€óóAnd€Abram€and€Nahor€took€them€wives:€the€name€ofŠ 0"¼ ŠAbramššs€wife€was€Sarai;€and€the€name€of€Nahorššs€wife,€Milcah,€the€daughter€ofŠ #Ø ŠHaran,€the€father€of€Milcah,€and€the€father€of€Iscah.€ņņ30€óóBut€Sarai€was€barren;€she€hadŠ $” Šno€child.Ō#†XäpXX Xäp"#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠō$€ !! ŠĢThe€only€details€that€we€are€offered€of€Abrahamššs€and€Sarahššs€marriage€is€that€Abraham€took€her.Š Ģ&X" ŠThere€is€no€mention€of€any€ceremony€or€any€wedding.€There€was€no€priest€there€and€no€civilŠ ø'D # Šauthority.€It€is€obvious€that€they€had€become€one€flesh€because€verse€30€says€that€Sarah€was€barren.Š ¤(0!$ Šthen€again€in€Genesis€16:1„4€which€states:Š )"% Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp%#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€16:1„4Š h+ō#' Šņņ1€óóNow€Sarai€Abramššs€wife€bare€him€no€children:€and€she€had€an€handmaid,€anŠ t ŠEgyptian,€whose€name€was€Hagar.€ņņ2€óóAnd€Sarai€said€unto€Abram,€Behold€now,€theŠ `ģ ŠLORD€hath€restrained€me€from€bearing:€I€pray€thee,€go€in€unto€my€maid;€it€may€beŠ L Ų Šthat€I€may€obtain€children€by€her.€And€Abram€hearkened€to€the€voice€of€Sarai.€ņņ3€óóAndŠ 8 Ä ŠSarai€Abramššs€wife€took€Hagar€her€maid€the€Egyptian,€after€Abram€had€dwelt€tenŠ $ ° Šyears€in€the€land€of€Canaan,€and€gave€her€to€her€husband€Abram€to€be€his€wife.€ņņ4€óóAndŠ  œ Šhe€went€in€unto€Hagar,€and€she€conceived:€and€when€she€saw€that€she€had€conceived,Š ü ˆ Šher€mistress€was€despised€in€her€eyes.Ō#†XäpXX XäpO'#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠč t!! ŠĢą  ąLamech,€of€the€seed€of€Cain,€was€the€first€polygamist€recorded€in€the€Bible€in€Genesis.Š ĄL  ŠAbraham€was€the€first€polygamist€recorded€in€the€Bible€following€the€flood€and€it€lead€to€immediateŠ ¬8  Šproblems€because€it€was€contrary€to€the€will€of€God.€We€will€deal€with€polygamy€later€in€this€chapter.Š ˜$  ŠNote€that€Sarah€gave€her€Egyptian€maid€unto€Abraham€to€be€his€wife.€The€law€of€the€land,€the€CodeŠ „  Šof€Hammurabi€Number€146:€states:Š pü  ŠĢą8  ąIf€a€man€take€a€wife€and€she€give€this€man€a€maid-servant€as€wife€and€she€bear€himŠ HŌ  Šchildren,€and€then€this€maid€assume€equality€with€the€wife:€because€she€has€borne€himŠ 4Ą Šchildren€her€master€shall€not€sell€her€for€money,€but€he€may€keep€her€as€a€slave,Š  ¬ Šreckoning€her€among€the€maid-servants.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp¹*#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ ˜!! ŠĢWhile€what€Sarah€and€Abraham€done€here€was€strictly€in€accordance€with€the€law€of€the€land,€it€wasŠ äp Ša€violation€of€the€express€will€of€God€from€Genesis€2:24€and€it€showed€a€lapse€of€faith€in€the€promiseŠ Š\ Šof€God€given€to€Abraham€in€Genesis€15:4.€Again€and€again,€we€come€back€to€one€of€the€themes€ofŠ ¼H Šthis€chapter€and€that€is€that€there€was€no€ceremony€involved€in€the€marriage€of€Abraham€and€Hagar.Š Ø4 ŠHagar€became€€Abrahamššs€wife€when€he€š šwent€in€untošš€her.€The€act€of€going€š šin€untošš€her€was€theŠ ”  Šmarriage.€We€see€this€pattern€repeated€in€the€case€of€Isaac€and€Rebekah€in€Genesis€24:61„67:Š €  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp›.#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€24:61„67Š X ä Šņņ61€óóAnd€Rebekah€arose,€and€her€damsels,€and€they€rode€upon€the€camels,€and€followedŠ D!Š Šthe€man:€and€the€servant€took€Rebekah,€and€went€his€way.€ņņ62€óóAnd€Isaac€came€from€theŠ 0"¼ Šway€of€the€well€Lahairoi;€for€he€dwelt€in€the€south€country.€ņņ63€óóAnd€Isaac€went€out€toŠ #Ø Šmeditate€in€the€field€at€the€eventide:€and€he€lifted€up€his€eyes,€and€saw,€and,€behold,Š $” Šthe€camels€were€coming.€ņņ64€óóAnd€Rebekah€lifted€up€her€eyes,€and€when€she€saw€Isaac,Š ō$€  Šshe€lighted€off€the€camel.€ņņ65€óóFor€she€had€said€unto€the€servant,€What€man€is€this€thatŠ ą%l! Šwalketh€in€the€field€to€meet€us?€And€the€servant€had€said,€It€is€my€master:€thereforeŠ Ģ&X" Šshe€took€a€vail,€and€covered€herself.€ņņ66€óóAnd€the€servant€told€Isaac€all€things€that€he€hadŠ ø'D # Šdone.€ņņ67€óóAnd€Isaac€brought€her€into€his€mother€Sarahššs€tent,€and€took€Rebekah,€and€sheŠ ¤(0!$ Šbecame€his€wife;€and€he€loved€her:€and€Isaac€was€comforted€after€his€motherššs€death.Š)"%!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpŚ1#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢWe€are€provided€with€many€more€details€of€the€events€leading€up€to€the€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp 6#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌmarriage€of€Isaac€andŠ h+ō#' ŠRebekah€than€we€are€with€any€other€marriage€recorded€in€the€Scriptures.€The€case€of€Isaac€andŠ t ŠRebekah€provided€the€seed€bed€for€many€of€the€Jewish€customs€surrounding€marriages€even€unto€thisŠ `ģ Šday.€We€do€not€see€similar€details€leading€up€to€a€marriage€recorded€for€any€other€marriage€in€theŠ L Ų ŠScriptures.€Furthermore,€in€the€case€of€Isaac€and€Rebekah,€we€do€not€see€a€betrothal€or€espousalŠ 8 Ä Šrecorded.€In€fact,€Isaac€had€no€clue€who€was€going€to€be€his€wife!€Neither€was€a€ceremony€performed.Š $ ° ŠRebekah€became€Isaacššs€wife€when€he€š štookšš€her.€As€far€as€we€can€tell,€Abraham€was€not€€evenŠ  œ Šaround.€The€events€surrounding€the€four€marriages€of€Jacob€are€quite€a€bit€different€than€those€for€hisŠ ü ˆ Šfather€Isaac.€These€events€are€recorded€in€Genesis€chapters€29€and€30€where€we€read:Š č t ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€29:20„30€ŠĄL !! Šą8  ą20€And€Jacob€served€seven€years€for€Rachel;€and€they€seemed€unto€himņņ€butóó€a€fewŠ ¬8  Šdays,€for€the€love€he€had€to€her.€21€And€Jacob€said€unto€Laban,€Giveņņ€meóó€my€wife,€forŠ ˜$  Šmy€days€are€fulfilled,€that€I€may€go€in€unto€her.€22€And€Laban€gathered€together€allŠ „  Šthe€men€of€the€place,€and€made€a€feast.€23€And€it€came€to€pass€in€the€evening,€that€heŠ pü  Štook€Leah€his€daughter,€and€brought€her€to€him;€and€he€went€in€unto€her.€24€AndŠ \č  ŠLaban€gave€unto€his€daughter€Leah€Zilpah€his€maidņņ€foróó€an€handmaid.€25€And€it€cameŠ HŌ  Što€pass,€that€in€the€morning,€behold,€itņņ€wasóó€Leah:€and€he€said€to€Laban,€Whatņņ€isóó€thisŠ 4Ą Šthou€hast€done€unto€me?€did€not€I€serve€with€thee€for€Rachel?€wherefore€then€hastŠ  ¬ Šthou€beguiled€me?€ņņ26€óóAnd€Laban€said,€It€must€not€be€so€done€in€our€country,€to€giveŠ  ˜ Šthe€younger€before€the€firstborn.€ņņ27€óóFulfil€her€week,€and€we€will€give€thee€this€also€forŠ ų„ Šthe€service€which€thou€shalt€serve€with€me€yet€seven€other€years.€ņņ28€óóAnd€Jacob€did€so,Š äp Šand€fulfilled€her€week:€and€he€gave€him€Rachel€his€daughter€to€wife€also.€ņņ29€óóAnd€LabanŠ Š\ Šgave€to€Rachel€his€daughter€Bilhah€his€handmaid€to€be€her€maid.€ņņ30€óóAnd€he€went€inŠ ¼H Šalso€unto€Rachel,€and€he€loved€also€Rachel€more€than€Leah,€and€served€with€him€yetŠ Ø4 Šseven€other€years.Š” !! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp*7#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€30:1„10Š lų Šņņ1€óóAnd€when€Rachel€saw€that€she€bare€Jacob€no€children,€Rachel€envied€her€sister;€andŠ X ä Šsaid€unto€Jacob,€Give€me€children,€or€else€I€die.€ņņ2€óóAnd€Jacobššs€anger€was€kindledŠ D!Š Šagainst€Rachel:€and€he€said,€Am€I€in€Godššs€stead,€who€hath€withheld€from€thee€theŠ 0"¼ Šfruit€of€the€womb?€ņņ3€óóAnd€she€said,€Behold€my€maid€Bilhah,€go€in€unto€her;€and€sheŠ #Ø Šshall€bear€upon€my€knees,€that€I€may€also€have€children€by€her.€ņņ4€óóAnd€she€gave€himŠ $” ŠBilhah€her€handmaid€to€wife:€and€Jacob€went€in€unto€her.€ņņ5€óóAnd€Bilhah€conceived,€andŠ ō$€  Šbare€Jacob€a€son.€ņņ6€óóAnd€Rachel€said,€God€hath€judged€me,€and€hath€also€heard€myŠ ą%l! Švoice,€and€hath€given€me€a€son:€therefore€called€she€his€name€Dan.€ņņ7€óóAnd€BilhahŠ Ģ&X" ŠRachelššs€maid€conceived€again,€and€bare€Jacob€a€second€son.€ņņ8€óóAnd€Rachel€said,€WithŠ ø'D # Šgreat€wrestlings€have€I€wrestled€with€my€sister,€and€I€have€prevailed:€and€she€calledŠ ¤(0!$ Šhis€name€Naphtali.€ņņ9€óóWhen€Leah€saw€that€she€had€left€bearing,€she€took€Zilpah€herŠ )"% Šmaid,€and€gave€her€Jacob€to€wife.€ņņ10€óóAnd€Zilpah€Leahššs€maid€bare€Jacob€a€son.Ō#†XäpXX XäpøA#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ|*#&!! ŠŠ h+ō#' Šą  ąIt€is€interesting€to€note€here€that€a€feast€was€made€to€celebrate€the€event€that€was€about€to€takeŠ t Šplace.€It€is€quite€possible€that€this€event€is€the€root€source€of€the€lavish€marriage€suppers€and€weddingŠ `ģ Šfeasts€that€have€characterize€all€Jewish€weddings€down€through€the€ages.€If€you€argue€for€a€covenantŠ L Ų Šhere,€and€there€was€not,€it€is€obvious€that€Jacob€expected€that€he€would€be€going€in€unto€Rachel€andŠ 8 Ä Šshe€would€become€his€wife.€The€act€of€š šgoing€in€untošš€was€the€act€of€becoming€one€flesh.€It€is€clearŠ $ ° Šthat€there€was€no€espousal,€covenant,€or€ceremony€here€that€involved€Leah.€If€you€argue€for€aŠ  œ Šcovenant€here,€then€you€have€to€believe€that€the€covenant€was€created€and€made€binding€by€Leah€andŠ ü ˆ ŠJacob€becoming€one€flesh.€There€was€obviously€no€verbal€agreement€between€the€two€of€them.Š č t ŠNeither€was€there€any€intent€here€on€Jacobššs€part€to€marry€Leah.€Yet,€it€is€undeniable€here€that€whenŠ Ō` ŠJacob€went€in€unto€Leah€and€they€became€one€flesh€that€Leah€was€Jacobššs€wife€regardless€of€hisŠ ĄL  Šunderstanding€that€his€marriage€was€to€be€to€Rachel.€There€may€have€been€an€agreement€here€betweenŠ ¬8  ŠJacob€and€Laban€concerning€Rachel,€but€it€was€not€a€covenant€between€Rachel€and€Jacob€and€neitherŠ ˜$  Šdid€it€involve€Leah.€It€is€clear€from€verse€28€that€Leah€and€Rachel€became€Jacobššs€wives.€ThoughŠ „  ŠJacob€took€Rachel€to€wife,€later€on€this€practice€was€outlawed€in€Leviticus€18:18€which€says:Š pü  ŠĢą8  ąLeviticus€18:18Š HŌ  Šņņ18€óóNeither€shalt€thou€take€a€wife€to€her€sister,€to€vex€her,€to€uncover€her€nakedness,Š 4Ą Šbeside€the€other€in€her€life€time.Š ¬!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą  ąWe€also€see€in€the€cases€of€Leahššs€handmaid€Zilpah€and€Rachelššs€handmaid€Bilhah€that€theyŠ ų„ Šbecame€Jacobššs€wives€when€he€š šwent€in€untošš€them.€To€be€sure,€there€was€no€ceremony€and€noŠ äp Šfanfare€that€involved€these€two€handmaids€that€Jacob€married.€Given€the€circumstances,€can€youŠ Š\ Šimagine€the€ruckus€that€would€have€ensued€had€a€ceremony€or€wedding€feast€taken€place?€There€wasŠ ¼H Šalready€much€tension€and€contention€in€Jacobššs€home€because€of€his€multiple€wives.€Now,€letššs€lookŠ Ø4 Šat€Ruth€and€Boaz€in€Ruth€4:13Š ”  Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąRuth€4:13€Šlų!! Šą8  ą13€So€Boaz€took€Ruth,€and€she€was€his€wife:€and€when€he€went€in€unto€her,€the€LORDŠ X ä Šgave€her€conception,€and€she€bare€a€son.ŠD!Š!! ŠĢą  ąRuth€became€Boazššs€wife€when€he€took€her€meaning€that€she€became€his€wife€when€theyŠ #Ø Šbecame€one€flesh.€That€is€the€meaning€of€š šhe€went€in€unto€heršš.€Boaz€became€the€kinsman€redeemerŠ $” Šof€a€Gentile€Bride.€Hallelujah!€In€the€eyes€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€that€is€me!šŌ#†XäpXX2XäpG#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€The€Lord€Jesus€ChristŠ ō$€  Šis€the€kinsman€RedeemerŌ#†XäpXX2XäpT#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€for€all€those€who€receive€him€as€Saviour.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp™T#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌņ ņó óŠ ą%l! Šņ ņó óą  ąWe€do€not€see€a€ceremony€in€any€of€the€Biblical€marriages€that€we€have€looked€at€thus€far.Š Ģ&X" ŠYou€do€not€see€an€Old€Testament€or€New€Testament€example€where€any€man€made€requirement€suchŠ ø'D # Šas€a€ceremony,€an€altar,€a€marriage€license,€or€a€formal€covenant€constituted€a€scriptural€marriage.Š ¤(0!$ ŠNeither€do€you€see€the€presence€of€any€religious€or€government€official.€As€detailed€as€the€instructionsŠ )"% Šwere€for€the€duties€of€the€priest€in€the€Old€Testament€none€of€them€included€any€requirement€toŠ |*#& Šofficiate€at€a€marriage€ceremony.€There€were€detailed€requirements€in€the€New€Testament€for€pastorsŠ h+ō#' Šand€none€of€them€required€that€pastors€officiate€at€marriages.€Marriages€officiated€by€priests€is€a€veryŠ t ŠRoman€Catholic€idea€and€did€not€come€forth€until€the€Council€of€Trent€in€1563.€To€the€RomanŠ `ģ ŠCatholic€Church,€marriage€was€a€sacrament€that€only€a€Roman€Catholic€priest€could€administer.Š L Ų ŠHowever,€marriage€in€the€Bible€has€never€been€a€function€of€the€state,€or,€a€function€of€a€priest,Š 8 Ä Špastor,€or€preacher.€It€has€always€been€a€family€affair€that€required€the€permission€of€the€brideššs€fatherŠ $ ° Šunless€the€woman€getting€married€had€already€been€married€before.€We€have€for€many€years€extendedŠ  œ Šthat€Old€Testament€custom€into€American€culture€where€in€years€gone€by€the€man€had€to€go€to€theŠ ü ˆ Šfather€and€request€the€hand€of€his€daughter€in€marriage.€What€we€call€a€marriage€today€is€not€theŠ č t Šscriptural€presentation€of€what€marriage€is.€In€todayššs€world,€we€interpret€marriage€to€be€a€ceremonyŠ Ō` Šbecause€all€western€societies€are€in€open€fornication.€In€most€Biblical€marriages,€there€is€a€markedŠ ĄL  Šabsence€of€a€ceremony.€€What€we€see€in€the€Old€Testament€and€the€New€Testament€are€celebrationsŠ ¬8  Šof€the€accomplished€fact€of€the€marriage.€The€wedding€celebrations€and€marriage€feasts€in€the€BibleŠ ˜$  Šdo€not€inaugurate€the€marriage.€They€celebrate€it.€Even€in€the€marriage€at€Cana€of€Galilee€where€theŠ „  Šwater€was€turned€into€wine,€it€is€obvious€that€what€was€taking€place€was€the€celebration€of€theŠ pü  Šmarriage€that€had€already€taken€place€because€they€were€already€out€of€wine.€In€other€words,€what€weŠ \č  Šhave€in€John€2€is€the€marriage€feast.€The€marriage€feast€and€the€marriage€supper€always€followed€theŠ HŌ  Šhusband€and€wife€becoming€one€flesh€just€as€it€does€with€the€Marriage€Supper€Of€The€Lamb€inŠ 4Ą ŠRevelation€chapter€19.€In€Jewish€custom,€it€was€the€displaying€of€the€tokens€of€virginity€that€set€inŠ  ¬ Šmotion€the€lavish€celebration€and€marriage€suppers€which€followed.Š  ˜ Šą  ąThe€whole€point€of€the€previous€discussion€has€been€to€prove€that€scripturally€a€marriage€takesŠ ų„ Šplace€without€a€ceremony€and€without€a€celebration€having€taken€place.€That€is€the€whole€point€ofŠ äp Šlegally€recognizing€what€is€called€Common€Law€marriages.€Common€Law€marriages€are€as€legallyŠ Š\ Šand€scripturally€binding€as€any€marriage€though€no€ceremony€was€ever€performed€that€had€theŠ ¼H Šsanction€of€the€state€or€the€church.€In€early€American€history,€Common€Law€marriages€were€quiteŠ Ø4 Šcommon.€Furthermore,€we€have€documented€case€after€case€where€no€ceremony€or€celebration€isŠ ”  Šrecorded€in€the€Scriptures€and€yet€the€women€involved€are€said€to€be€wives.€Ō#†XäpXX2XäpU#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ €  ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp÷c#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢą@vv%ąņ ņCONCUBINESó óŌ#†XäpXX2XäpNd#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌˆŠ X ä ŠĢņ ņó óą  ąLetššs€establish€the€fact€that€a€concubine€is€a€wife€that€comes€without€a€dowry€to€her€husbandŠ 0"¼ Šand€without€a€payment€required€to€the€father€of€the€concubine.€The€concubine€was€equal€in€rights€toŠ #Ø Šthe€woman€who€was€called€a€wife.€The€concubines€sons€were€on€equal€footing€with€the€sons€of€theŠ $” Šwife.€Many€times€the€terms€concubine€and€wife€are€used€interchangeably€when€applied€to€the€sameŠ ō$€  Šindividual.€In€Genesis€16:3€Hagar€is€called€a€wife€of€Abraham€and€concubine€of€Abraham€in€GenesisŠ ą%l! Š25:6.€These€verses€state:Š Ģ&X" ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp³d#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€16:3Š ¤(0!$ Šņņ3€óóAnd€Sarai€Abramššs€wife€took€Hagar€her€maid€the€Egyptian,€after€Abram€had€dweltŠ )"% Šten€years€in€the€land€of€Canaan,€and€gave€her€to€her€husband€Abram€to€be€his€wife.Š|*#&!! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp¤g#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠh+ō#'!! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpóh#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€25:6Š t Šņņ6€óóBut€unto€the€sons€of€the€concubines,€which€Abraham€had,€Abraham€gave€gifts,€andŠ `ģ Šsent€them€away€from€Isaac€his€son,€while€he€yet€lived,€eastward,€unto€the€east€country.ŠL Ų!! ŠĢKeturah€is€called€a€wife€in€Genesis€25:1€and€a€concubine€in€Genesis€25:6€and€1€Chronicles€1:32.Š $ ° ŠThese€verses€say:Š  œ ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp`i#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€25:1Š č t Šņņ1€óóThen€again€Abraham€took€a€wife,€and€her€name€was€Keturah.ŠŌ`!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX XäpNk#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Chronicles€1:32Š ¬8  Šņņ32€óóNow€the€sons€of€Keturah,€Abrahamššs€concubine:€she€bare€Zimran,€and€Jokshan,€andŠ ˜$  ŠMedan,€and€Midian,€and€Ishbak,€and€Shuah.€And€the€sons€of€Jokshan;€Sheba,€andŠ „  ŠDedan.Špü !! ŠĢBilhah€and€Zilpah€are€called€Jacobššs€wives€in€Genesis€37:2€while€Bilhah€is€called€Jacobššs€concubineŠ HŌ  Šin€Genesis€35:22€with€these€verses€reading€as€follows:Š 4Ą ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX XäpAl#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€35:22Š  ˜ Šņņ22€óóAnd€it€came€to€pass,€when€Israel€dwelt€in€that€land,€that€Reuben€went€and€lay€withŠ ų„ ŠBilhah€his€fatherššs€concubine:€and€Israel€heard€it.€Now€the€sons€of€Jacob€were€twelve:Šäp!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpxn#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€37:2Š ¼H Šņņ2€óóThese€are€the€generations€of€Jacob.€Joseph,€being€seventeen€years€old,€was€feedingŠ Ø4 Šthe€flock€with€his€brethren;€and€the€lad€was€with€the€sons€of€Bilhah,€and€with€the€sonsŠ ”  Šof€Zilpah,€his€fatherššs€wives:€and€Joseph€brought€unto€his€father€their€evil€report.Š€ !! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäpōo#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX Xäp©q#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌThe€events€recorded€concerning€the€Leviteššs€concubine€in€Judges€19€are€among€the€most€sordid€andŠ X ä Štragic€in€the€Scriptures.€The€King€James€Bibleššs€marginal€note€on€Judges€19:1€reads:€š ša€woman€aŠ D!Š Šconcubine,€or,€a€wife€a€concubinešš.€The€Levite€of€Judges€19€is€referred€to€as€the€husband€of€theŠ 0"¼ Šconcubine€that€was€slain.€These€verses€are€written€in€Judges€19:3€and€Judges€20:4„5:Š #Ø ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpģq#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌJudges€19:3Š ō$€  Šņņ3€óóAnd€her€husband€arose,€and€went€after€her,€to€speak€friendly€unto€her,€and€to€bringŠ ą%l! Šher€again,€having€his€servant€with€him,€and€a€couple€of€asses:€and€she€brought€himŠ Ģ&X" Šinto€her€fatherššs€house:€and€when€the€father€of€the€damsel€saw€him,€he€rejoiced€toŠ ø'D # Šmeet€him.Ō#†XäpXX Xäpt#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ¤(0!$!! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp»u#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌJudges€20:4„5Š |*#& Šņņ4€óóAnd€the€Levite,€the€husband€of€the€woman€that€was€slain,€answered€and€said,€I€cameŠ h+ō#' Šinto€Gibeah€that€belongeth€to€Benjamin,€I€and€my€concubine,€to€lodge.€ņņ5€óóAnd€the€menŠ t Šof€Gibeah€rose€against€me,€and€beset€the€house€round€about€upon€me€by€night,€andŠ `ģ Šthought€to€have€slain€me:€and€my€concubine€have€they€forced,€that€she€is€dead.ŠL Ų!! ŠĢThen€we€have€the€brief€history€concerning€Davidššs€ten€concubines€that€is€written€in€2€Samuel€12:11,Š $ ° Š2€Samuel€15:16,€and€2€Samuel€20:3€which€is€written€thus:Š  œ ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp)v#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€12:11Š č t Šņņ11€óóThus€saith€the€LORD,€Behold,€I€will€raise€up€evil€against€thee€out€of€thine€ownŠ Ō` Šhouse,€and€I€will€take€thy€wives€before€thine€eyes,€and€give€them€unto€thy€neighbour,Š ĄL  Šand€he€shall€lie€with€thy€wives€in€the€sight€of€this€sun.Š¬8 !! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpy#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€15:16Š „  Šņņ16€óóAnd€the€king€went€forth,€and€all€his€household€after€him.€And€the€king€left€tenŠ pü  Šwomen,€which€were€concubines,€to€keep€the€house.Š\č !! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp×z#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€16:21„22Š 4Ą Šņņ21€óóAnd€Ahithophel€said€unto€Absalom,€Go€in€unto€thy€fatherššs€concubines,€which€heŠ  ¬ Šhath€left€to€keep€the€house;€and€all€Israel€shall€hear€that€thou€art€abhorred€of€thy€father:Š  ˜ Šthen€shall€the€hands€of€all€that€are€with€thee€be€strong.€ņņ22€óóSo€they€spread€Absalom€aŠ ų„ Štent€upon€the€top€of€the€house;€and€Absalom€went€in€unto€his€fatherššs€concubines€inŠ äp Šthe€sight€of€all€Israel.Ō#†XäpXX Xäp|#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠŠ\!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX XäpB~#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€20:3Š Ø4 Šņņ3€óóAnd€David€came€to€his€house€at€Jerusalem;€and€the€king€took€the€ten€women€hisŠ ”  Šconcubines,€whom€he€had€left€to€keep€the€house,€and€put€them€in€ward,€and€fed€them,Š €  Šbut€went€not€in€unto€them.€So€they€were€shut€up€unto€the€day€of€their€death,€living€inŠ lų Šwidowhood.ŠX ä!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpŅ~#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX Xäp€#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌą  ąSecond€Samuel€12:11€contains€Nathanššs€prophecy€concerning€Davidššs€concubines.€NathanŠ 0"¼ Štold€David€that€a€neighbor€would€lie€with€his€wives€š šin€the€sight€of€this€sunšš.€That€neighbor€was€hisŠ #Ø Švery€own€son,€Absalom,€as€we€saw€in€2€Samuel€16:21„22€where€Absalom€went€in€unto€Davidššs€tenŠ $” Šconcubines€in€the€sight€of€all€Israel€in€broad€open€daylight.€From€2€Samuel€15:16,€we€know€thatŠ ō$€  ŠDavid€took€all€of€his€wives€with€him€when€he€left€Jerusalem.€In€2€Samuel€20:3€David€put€what€hadŠ ą%l! Šbeen€his€ten€concubines€in€ward€and€they€lived€in€widowhood€for€the€rest€of€their€lives.€Only€wivesŠ Ģ&X" Šcould€live€in€widowhood€as€those€ten€concubines€did.€They€were€called€widows€because€AbsalomŠ ø'D # Šmade€them€his€wives€when€he€went€in€unto€them€and€he€is€now€dead.€Š ¤(0!$ Šą  ąRizpah,€who€is€called€Saulššs€concubine€in€2€Samuel€3:7,€is€also€called€a€wife€in€2€SamuelŠ )"% Š12:8.€Ō#†XäpXX Xäpą€#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌIt€is€interesting€to€note€that€God€said€he€gave€Saulššs€wives€(PLURAL)€into€Davidššs€bosom€andŠ |*#& Šyet€we€can€only€document€one€wife€and€one€concubine,€Rizpah€(2€Samuel€3:7),€from€the€scriptures.Š h+ō#' ŠAhinoam,€Saulššs€wife,€is€identified€in€1€Samuel€14:50.€The€conclusion€to€be€drawn€from€this€is€thatŠ t Šconcubine€Rizpah€was€also€considered€to€be€a€wifeŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp=…#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ.€When€we€look€as€these€verses€we€see:Š `ģ ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp‡#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Samuel€14:50Š 8 Ä Šņņ50€óóAnd€the€name€of€Saulššs€wife€was€Ahinoam,€the€daughter€of€Ahimaaz:€and€the€nameŠ $ ° Šof€the€captain€of€his€host€was€Abner,€the€son€of€Ner,€Saulššs€uncle.Š œ!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp”‡#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€3:7Š č t Šņņ7€óóAnd€Saul€had€a€concubine,€whose€name€was€Rizpah,€the€daughter€of€Aiah:€andŠ Ō` ŠIshbosheth€said€to€Abner,€Wherefore€hast€thou€gone€in€unto€my€fatherššs€concubine?Ō#†XäpXX Xäp ‰#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠĄL !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp)Š#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp–Š#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€12:8Š ˜$  Šņņ8€óóAnd€I€gave€thee€thy€masterššs€house,€and€thy€masterššs€wives€into€thy€bosom,€and€gaveŠ „  Šthee€the€house€of€Israel€and€of€Judah;€and€if€that€had€been€too€little,€I€would€moreoverŠ pü  Šhave€given€unto€thee€such€and€such€things.Š\č !! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpūŠ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX XäpŒŒ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌHere€is€what€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€had€to€say€concerning€concubines:Š 4Ą ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2XäpĻŒ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌšą ` ąš šA€concubine€is€recognized€among€the€ancient€Hebrews.€She€enjoyed€the€sameŠ  ˜ Šrights€in€the€house€as€the€legitimate€wife.€Since€it€was€regarded€as€the€highest€blessingŠ ų„ Što€have€many€children,€while€the€greatest€curse€was€childlessness,€legitimate€wivesŠ äp Šthemselves€gave€their€maids€to€their€husbands€to€atone,€at€least€in€part,€for€their€ownŠ Š\ Šbarrenness,€as€in€the€cases€of€Sarah€and€Hagar,€Leah€and€Zilpah,€Rachel€and€Bilhah.Š ¼H ŠThe€concubine€commanded€the€same€respect€and€inviolability€as€the€wife;€and€it€wasŠ Ø4 Šregarded€as€the€deepest€dishonor€for€the€man€to€whom€she€belonged€if€hands€were€laidŠ ”  Šupon€her.€Thus€Jacob€never€forgave€his€eldest€son€for€violating€Bilhah€(Gen.€xxxv.€22,Š €  Šxlix.€4).€According€to€the€story€of€Gibeah,€related€in€Judges€xix.,€25,000€warriors€ofŠ lų Šthe€tribe€of€Benjamin€lost€their€lives€on€account€of€the€maltreatment€and€death€of€aŠ X ä Šconcubine.€Abner,€Saulššs€first€general,€deserted€Ish-bosheth,€Saulššs€son,€who€hadŠ D!Š Šreproached€his€leader€with€having€had€intercourse€with€Rizpah,€the€daughter€of€hisŠ 0"¼ Šroyal€fatherššs€concubine,€Aiah€(II€Sam.€iii.€7);€and€Absalom€brought€the€greatestŠ #Ø Šdishonor€upon€David€by€open€intercourse€with€his€fatherššs€concubines€(ib.€xvi.€21€etŠ $” Šseq.).Šō$€ !! Šą8  ąą ` ąThe€children€of€the€concubine€had€equal€rights€with€those€of€the€legitimateŠ ą%l! Šwife.€Abraham€dismissed€his€natural€sons€with€gifts€(Gen.€xxv.€6),€and€Jacobššs€sonsŠ Ģ&X" Šby€Bilhah€and€Zilpah€were€equal€with€his€sons€by€Leah€and€Rachel;€while€Abimelech,Š ø'D # Šwho€subsequently€became€king€over€a€part€of€Israel,€was€the€son€of€Gideon-jerubbaalŠ ¤(0!$ Šand€his€Shechemite€concubine€(Judges€viii.€31).€In€the€time€of€the€Kings€the€practiseŠ )"% Šof€taking€concubines€was€no€longer€due€to€childlessness€but€to€luxury.€David€had€tenŠ |*#& Šconcubines€(II€Sam.€xv.€16),€who,€however,€also€did€housework;€Solomon€had€300€(IŠ h+ō#' ŠKings€xi.€30);€and€his€son€Rehoboam€had€sixty€(II€Chron.€xi.€21)šš.€(Cited€from€theŠ t Š1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€article€on€Concubinage€Internet€Edition€at:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š `ģ ŠŌ4‚3”ŌŻ‚ĶOŻŌ’ŌņņŻ  ŻŌ5  Ōhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4585-concubinageŌ6V—ŌŻ‚ĶOj— ŻóóŌ’ŌŌŌŻ  ŻŌ7”䘗Ō)ŠL Ų!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp~#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢThe€conclusion€that€we€can€draw€from€the€scriptural€references€to€concubines€that€we€have€quotedŠ $ ° Šand€this€quote€from€the€1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€is€that€a€concubine€and€a€wife€are€on€equal€footingŠ  œ Šin€the€home.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp‰˜#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ ü ˆ ŠĢą@••#ąņ ņMULTIPLE€WIVESó óŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpʙ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌˆŠ Ō` ŠĢą  ąA€question€often€arises€as€to€why€many€of€the€Old€Testament€patriarchs€and€kings€hadŠ ¬8  Šmultiple€wives€and€concubines.€To€many€Christians€and€unbelievers€this€is€puzzling€since€inŠ ˜$  ŠAmerican€culture€we€have€been€rightfully€taught€that€a€marriage€is€made€up€of€only€two€people;€oneŠ „  Šof€which€must€be€a€man€and€the€other€a€woman.€Polygamy€is€illegal€in€the€United€States.€Though€GodŠ pü  Šallowed€multiple€wives,€it€was€not€his€original€intent.€The€scriptural€definition€of€marriage€requiresŠ \č  Šthat€two€are€to€become€one€and€not€that€three€or€more€are€to€become€one.€In€our€previous€discussionsŠ HŌ  Šleading€up€to€this€section,€we€have€destroyed€the€wicked€idea€of€polygamist€marriages€and€same€sexŠ 4Ą Šunions€that€God€calls€abominations.€The€purpose€of€this€section€is€to€further€document€the€scripturalŠ  ¬ Šrecord€concerning€multiple€wives.€Š  ˜ Šą  ąFor€purposes€of€this€discussion€on€multiple€wives,€we€are€going€to€consider€concubines€asŠ ų„ Šmeeting€the€definition€for€a€wife.Š äp Šą  ąWe€have€heard€it€stated€that€God€always€condemns€polygamy€in€the€Bible.€Then,€why€did€GodŠ Š\ Šgive€David€multiple€wives€in€2€Samuel€12:8??€That€does€not€sound€to€much€like€condemnation€to€us.Š ¼H ŠMerab,€Saulššs€daughter,€was€promised€to€be€Davidššs€wife€€by€Saul,€but€she€was€given€to€Adriel.€SaulŠ Ø4 Šalso€promised€to€David€his€daughter€Michal€to€be€a€wife€and€David€took€her€to€be€his€wife,€but€SaulŠ ”  Šlater€wickedly€gave€her€unto€Phaltiel€(See€1€Samuel€18:17„27Ō#†XäpXX2XäpDš#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€and€1€Samuel€25:44).€See€also€AbigailŠ €  Šand€Ahinoam€(1€Samuel€25:39„44);€Maacah,€Haggith,€Abital,€Eglah€(all€four€in€2€Samuel€3:1„5);Š lų ŠMichal€(2€Samuel€3:13„16);€Bathsheba€(2€Samuel€11:27)Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp_”#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ.€From€Scripture,€we€know€that€David€hadŠ X ä Šeight€wives€and€ten€concubines.€However,€God€warned€against€a€king€multiplying€wives€and€horsesŠ D!Š Što€himself.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpƒ¢#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp£#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌDeuteronomy€17:14„17Ō#†XäpXX2XäpÄ£#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€and€2€Samuel€12:7„8Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp¤#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€state:Š 0"¼ ŠĢą8  ąDeuteronomy€17:14„17Š $” Š14€When€thou€art€come€unto€the€land€which€the€LORD€thy€God€giveth€thee,€and€shaltŠ ō$€  Špossess€it,€and€shalt€dwell€therein,€and€shalt€say,€I€will€set€a€king€over€me,€like€as€allŠ ą%l! Šthe€nations€that€are€about€me;€15€Thou€shalt€in€any€wise€set€him€king€over€thee,€whomŠ Ģ&X" Šthe€LORD€thy€God€shall€choose:€one€from€among€thy€brethren€shalt€thou€set€king€overŠ ø'D # Šthee:€thou€mayest€not€set€a€stranger€over€thee,€which€is€not€thy€brother.€16€But€he€shallŠ ¤(0!$ Šnot€multiply€horses€to€himself,€nor€cause€the€people€to€return€to€Egypt,€to€the€end€thatŠ )"% Šhe€should€multiply€horses:€forasmuch€as€the€LORD€hath€said€unto€you,€Ye€shallŠ |*#& Šhenceforth€return€no€more€that€way.€17€Neither€shall€he€multiply€wives€to€himself,€thatŠ h+ō#' Šhis€heart€turn€not€away:€neither€shall€he€greatly€multiply€to€himself€silver€and€gold.Št!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ą2€Samuel€12:7„8Š L Ų Š7€And€Nathan€said€to€David,€Thou€art€the€man.€Thus€saith€the€LORD€God€of€Israel,Š 8 Ä ŠI€anointed€thee€king€over€Israel,€and€I€delivered€thee€out€of€the€hand€of€Saul;€8€AndŠ $ ° ŠI€gave€thee€thy€masterššs€house,€and€thy€masterššs€wives€into€thy€bosom,€and€gave€theeŠ  œ Šthe€house€of€Israel€and€of€Judah;€and€if€that€had€been€too€little,€I€would€moreover€haveŠ ü ˆ Šgiven€unto€thee€such€and€such€things.Šč t!! Š€ū’’dūĢü’’düComparing€2€Samuel€12:7„8€with€Deuteronomy€17:14„17€we€have€ourselves€a€problem€to€deal€with.Š ĄL  ŠIf€the€commandment€in€Deuteronomy€17:17€is€that€š šNeither€shall€he€[speaking€of€the€king]€multiplyŠ ¬8  Šwives€to€himselfšš,€then€what€do€you€do€with€the€fact€that€God€said€in€2€Samuel€12:8€that€he€gave€š šthyŠ ˜$  Šmasterššs€wives€into€thy€bosomšš€[referring€to€King€David]?€If€Godššs€command€in€Deuteronomy€17:17Š „  Što€the€kings€was€that€the€kings€were€not€to€multiply€unto€themselves€wives€and€God€gave€Sauls€wivesŠ pü  Šinto€Davidššs€bosom€then€we€would€have€to€conclude€that€having€multiple€wives€was€not€a€sin.Š \č  ŠOtherwise€the€action€of€God€in€2€Samuel€12:7„8€could€be€interpreted€as€sin€and€that€would€beŠ HŌ  Šimpossible€because€God€cannot€sin.€The€other€point€that€could€be€made€here€is€that€it€was€God€whoŠ 4Ą Šdone€the€multiplying€and€not€David€though€David€had€already€violated€this€charge€to€the€king.€It€wasŠ  ¬ ŠDavidššs€desire€to€have€multiple€sexual€partners€(wives)€that€led€to€much€tragedy€in€his€family.€WeŠ  ˜ Šwould€again€make€the€point€here€that€the€only€difference€between€a€wife€and€a€concubine€is€that€aŠ ų„ Šwife€came€with€a€dowry€and€a€concubine€did€not.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpp¤#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ äp Šą  ąWe€want€to€warn€our€readers€that€we€are€not€advocating€an€individual€having€multiple€spousesŠ Š\ Šbecause€we€do€not€believe€that€is€the€ideal€that€God€established€in€Genesis€2:24.€Nor€is€a€marriageŠ ¼H Šinvolving€multiple€spouses€the€picture€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€His€church€as€is€plainly€presentedŠ Ø4 Šin€the€New€Testament.€There€is€one€New€Testament€Bride€and€the€one€man€and€one€woman€husbandŠ ”  Šand€wife€relationship€is€declared€to€be€a€type€of€that€Bride.€We€also€believe€that€the€requirement€thatŠ €  Šthe€Old€Testament€High€Priest€take€a€virgin€as€his€wife€was€a€type€of€what€was€supposed€to€have€beenŠ lų Šthe€relationship€between€Israel€and€Jehovah€God.€God€had€ONE€chosen€nation€to€be€his€bride€andŠ X ä Šwife€and€that€nation€was€Israel.€She€was€to€be€a€virgin€unto€Jehovah€God.€€That€type€has€its€perfectŠ D!Š Šfulfillment€in€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€our€High€Priest,€who€has€that€chaste€Virgin,€the€Church,€as€HisŠ 0"¼ ŠBride.€While€we€know€and€understand€that€it€has€always€been€Godššs€intent€that€there€be€one€man€andŠ #Ø Šone€woman€for€a€lifetime,€we€also€cannot€deny€the€fact€that€many€men€of€God€in€the€Old€TestamentŠ $” Šhad€multiple€wives.€That€would€include€that€man€David€that€was€after€Godššs€own€heart.€There€are€noŠ ō$€  Šverses€in€either€the€Old€Testament€or€the€New€Testament€that€specifically€state€that€a€man€cannot€haveŠ ą%l! Šmore€than€one€wife.€God€gave€David€multiple€wives.€There€is€no€specific€limitations€on€the€numberŠ Ģ&X" Šof€wives€a€man€may€have€under€the€Old€Testament€law.€As€a€matter€of€fact,€God€regulated€theŠ ø'D # Štreatment€of€multiple€wives€under€the€Old€Testament€law.€€Two€examples€of€this€law€are€written€inŠ ¤(0!$ ŠExodus€21:10€and€Deuteronomy€21:15„16€which€state:Š )"% ŠĢŠ h+ō#' Šą8  ąExodus€21:10€Št!! Šą8  ą10€If€he€take€him€anotherņņ€wifeóó;€her€food,€her€raiment,€and€her€duty€of€marriage,€shallŠ `ģ Šhe€not€diminish.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpm°#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠL Ų!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąDeuteronomy€21:15„16Š $ ° Š15€If€a€man€have€two€wives,€one€beloved,€and€another€hated,€and€they€have€born€himŠ  œ Šchildren,€both€the€beloved€and€the€hated;€and€if€the€firstborn€son€be€hers€that€wasŠ ü ˆ Šhated:€16€Then€it€shall€be,€when€he€maketh€his€sons€to€inherit€that€which€he€hath,€thatŠ č t Šhe€may€not€make€the€son€of€the€beloved€firstborn€before€the€son€of€the€hated,€whichŠ Ō` Šis€indeed€the€firstborn:Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpb¹#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠĄL !! ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp×»#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp8¼#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌą  ąThere€were€five€generations€born€in€the€line€of€Cain€before€the€first€incident€of€polygamyŠ ˜$  Šinvolving€Lamech€is€recorded€in€the€Bible€in€Genesis€4:19€which€reads:Š „  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp{¼#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€4:19Š \č  Šņņ19€óóAnd€Lamech€took€unto€him€two€wives:€the€name€of€the€one€was€Adah,€and€the€nameŠ HŌ  Šof€the€other€Zillah.Š4Ą!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäp ½#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢWhat€this€means€is€that€the€seed€of€Cain€was€the€first€to€introduce€polygamy€into€the€world.€ThatŠ  ˜ Šshould€be€very€revealing€and€instructive€to€us.€What€Genesis€4:19€and€Genesis€5:1„22€tells€us€is€thatŠ ų„ Špolygamy€did€not€enter€into€the€world€until€the€fifth€generation€following€Cain€and€that€that€periodŠ äp Šof€time€had€to€be€at€least€700€years.€We€get€that€seven€hundred€year€figure€by€inferring€that€the€fiveŠ Š\ Šgenerations€of€Cain€plus€Adams€age€when€he€beget€Seth€must€be€roughly€equal€to€the€same€figuresŠ ¼H Šfor€the€generations€of€Seth€which€are€recorded€in€Genesis€chapter€5.€Those€figures€total€687€years.Š Ø4 ŠThe€seed€of€Cain€was€destroyed€in€the€flood€and€God€restored€the€ideal€of€š šone€man€with€one€womanŠ ”  Šfor€a€lifetimešš€when€he€brought€Noah€and€his€three€sons€and€their€four€wives€from€the€Ark.€It€was€notŠ €  Šuntil€375€years€after€the€flood€that€we€see€the€next€incident€of€polygamy€recorded€in€the€Bible€and€thatŠ lų Šinvolved€Abraham€in€Genesis€16:3„4€and€his€brother€Nahor€in€Genesis€22:24€where€we€are€told:Š X ä ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€16:3„4Š 0"¼ Šņņ3€óóAnd€Sarai€Abramššs€wife€took€Hagar€her€maid€the€Egyptian,€after€Abram€had€dweltŠ #Ø Šten€years€in€the€land€of€Canaan,€and€gave€her€to€her€husband€Abram€to€be€his€wife.€ņņ4Š $” ŠóóAnd€he€went€in€unto€Hagar,€and€she€conceived:€and€when€she€saw€that€she€hadŠ ō$€  Šconceived,€her€mistress€was€despised€in€her€eyes.Šą%l!!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp£¾#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€22:23„24Š ø'D # Šņņ23€óóAnd€Bethuel€begat€Rebekah:€these€eight€Milcah€did€bear€to€Nahor,€AbrahamššsŠ ¤(0!$ Šbrother.€ņņ24€óóAnd€his€concubine,€whose€name€was€Reumah,€she€bare€also€Tebah,€andŠ )"% ŠGaham,€and€Thahash,€and€Maachah.Š|*#&!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäp‡Å#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ h+ō#' ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpĒ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌą  ąSo,€both€Abraham€and€Nahor€had€two€wives€at€the€same€time.€This€is€not€to€say€that€thereŠ t Šwere€no€more€polygamous€marriages€in€the€world€because€if€Abraham€was€guilty,€then€it€only€makesŠ `ģ Šsense€that€many€more€men€in€the€world€were€also€guilty.€One€thing€should€be€noted€in€the€case€ofŠ L Ų ŠAbraham,€Sarah,€and€Hagar€is€that€the€polygamous€arrangement€resulted€in€instant€strife€in€the€homeŠ 8 Ä Šbetween€all€three€that€were€involved.€What€also€ensued€from€this€was€the€birth€of€the€wild€manŠ $ ° ŠIshmael€whose€seed€has€been€a€source€of€never€ending€strife€in€the€Middle€East.€The€Ishmaelites€haveŠ  œ Šbeen€and€continue€to€be€the€perpetual€enemies€of€the€Jewish€people.€Esau€is€the€next€polygamist€weŠ ü ˆ Šwill€consider.€He€took€three€wives€none€of€whom€were€from€among€the€people€of€Isaac€and€the€BibleŠ č t Šsays€it€was€a€grief€unto€Isaac€and€Rebekah.€These€are€identified€in€Genesis€chapters€26:34€and€GenesisŠ Ō` Š28:6„9€with€the€concise€list€showing€up€in€Genesis€36:1„3€which€states:Š ĄL  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2XäpYĒ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€36:1„3Š ˜$  Šņņ1€óóNow€these€are€the€generations€of€Esau,€who€is€Edom.€ņņ2€óóEsau€took€his€wives€of€theŠ „  Šdaughters€of€Canaan;€Adah€the€daughter€of€Elon€the€Hittite,€and€Aholibamah€theŠ pü  Šdaughter€of€Anah€the€daughter€of€Zibeon€the€Hivite;€ņņ3€óóAnd€Bashemath€IshmaelššsŠ \č  Šdaughter,€sister€of€Nebajoth.ŠHŌ !! ŠĢThe€reason€these€wives€were€a€grief€unto€Isaac€and€Rebekah€is€given€in€Genesis€28:8€where€it€saysŠ  ¬ Šthat€Esau€took€his€wives€from€among€the€daughters€of€Canaan€because€he€knew€it€displeased€hisŠ  ˜ Šfather€Isaac.Ō#†XäpXX Xäp3Ģ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ ų„ Šą  ąThe€next€case€of€polygamous€marriage€we€run€into€is€that€of€Jacob€in€Genesis€30:3„9€whereŠ äp Šit€is€written:Š Š\ ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp Ļ#Ōą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€30:3„9Š Ø4 Šņņ3€óóAnd€she€said,€Behold€my€maid€Bilhah,€go€in€unto€her;€and€she€shall€bear€upon€myŠ ”  Šknees,€that€I€may€also€have€children€by€her.€ņņ4€óóAnd€she€gave€him€Bilhah€her€handmaidŠ €  Što€wife:€and€Jacob€went€in€unto€her.€ņņ5€óóAnd€Bilhah€conceived,€and€bare€Jacob€a€son.€ņņ6Š lų ŠóóAnd€Rachel€said,€God€hath€judged€me,€and€hath€also€heard€my€voice,€and€hath€givenŠ X ä Šme€a€son:€therefore€called€she€his€name€Dan.€ņņ7€óóAnd€Bilhah€Rachelššs€maid€conceivedŠ D!Š Šagain,€and€bare€Jacob€a€second€son.€ņņ8€óóAnd€Rachel€said,€With€great€wrestlings€have€IŠ 0"¼ Šwrestled€with€my€sister,€and€I€have€prevailed:€and€she€called€his€name€Naphtali.€ņņ9Š #Ø ŠóóWhen€Leah€saw€that€she€had€left€bearing,€she€took€Zilpah€her€maid,€and€gave€herŠ $” ŠJacob€to€wife.Šō$€ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp Š#Ōą8` !!ąŠ ` Ć` Ć ŠŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌFrom€these€verses€we€see€that€Jacob€had€four€wives.€Many€believe€that€Moses€had€two€wives€basedŠ Ģ&X" Šupon€Exodus€2:21€and€Numbers€12:1€which€say:Š ø'D # ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp:Ō#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌExodus€2:21Š )"% Šņņ21€óóAnd€Moses€was€content€to€dwell€with€the€man:€and€he€gave€Moses€Zipporah€hisŠ |*#& ŠŌ_Ōdaughter.Šh+ō#'!! ŠŌ_Ō‡ą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp>Õ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌNumbers€12:1Š t Šņņ1€óóAnd€Miriam€and€Aaron€spake€against€Moses€because€of€the€Ethiopian€woman€whomŠ `ģ Šhe€had€married:€for€he€had€married€an€Ethiopian€woman.Ō#†XäpXX Xäp_Ö#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠL Ų!! ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpb×#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌOne€thing€that€is€clear€from€these€two€verses€is€that€Moses€had€at€least€one€wife€who€was€black.€It€isŠ $ ° Šdebatable€in€the€eyes€of€some€as€to€whether€Moses€had€two€wives.€You€will€have€to€draw€your€ownŠ  œ Šconclusions,€but€according€to€Exodus€3:1,€€Jethro,€Zipporahššs€father,€was€a€Midian€and€not€anŠ ü ˆ ŠEthiopian.€The€wife€referred€to€in€Numbers€12:1€is€stated€to€be€an€Ethiopian.€The€next€case€ofŠ č t Špolygamy€we€find€is€in€the€case€of€Gideon.€Judges€8:30€reads:Š Ō` ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2XäpÄ×#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌJudges€8:30Š ¬8  Šņņ30€óóAnd€Gideon€had€threescore€and€ten€sons€of€his€body€begotten:€for€he€had€manyŠ ˜$  Šwives.Š„ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp<Ś#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ !! ŠJudges€8:31€also€says€that€Gideon€had€at€least€one€concubine.€Our€next€case€of€polygamy€involvedŠ \č  ŠElkanah€which€is€recorded€in€1€Samuel€1:2:Š HŌ  ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp:Ū#Ōą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX XäpSÜ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Samuel€1:1„2Š  ¬ Šņņ1€óóNow€there€was€a€certain€man€of€Ramathaimzophim,€of€mount€Ephraim,€and€his€nameŠ  ˜ Šwas€Elkanah,€the€son€of€Jeroham,€the€son€of€Elihu,€the€son€of€Tohu,€the€son€of€Zuph,Š ų„ Šan€Ephrathite:€ņņ2€óóAnd€he€had€two€wives;€the€name€of€the€one€was€Hannah,€and€the€nameŠ äp Šof€the€other€Peninnah:€and€Peninnah€had€children,€but€Hannah€had€no€children.Ō#†XäpXX XäpøÜ#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠŠ\!! ŠĢElkanah€was€the€father€of€the€prophet€Samuel.€We€also€see€the€strife€in€this€home€caused€by€a€manŠ Ø4 Šhaving€more€than€one€wife.€Peninnah€and€Hannah€struggled€with€one€another€unto€the€point€thatŠ ”  ŠHannah€referred€to€Peninnah€as€being€an€adversaryņ ņó óš€that€severely€provoked€her€by€mocking€herŠ €  Šbecause€she€was€barren€(See€1€Samuel€1:4„7).€€The€next€case€of€polygamy€is€that€of€Saul€where€weŠ lų Šread€in€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp­Ž#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Samuel€14:50Ō#†XäpXX Xäpėą#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ€and€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp;į#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€3:7Ō#†XäpXX Xäp‚į#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌ:Š X ä ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2XäpŠį#Ōą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Samuel€14:50Š 0"¼ Šņņ50€óóAnd€the€name€of€Saulššs€wife€was€Ahinoam,€the€daughter€of€Ahimaaz:€and€the€nameŠ #Ø Šof€the€captain€of€his€host€was€Abner,€the€son€of€Ner,€Saulššs€uncle.Š$”!! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp5ā#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Samuel€3:7Š ą%l! Šņņ7€óóAnd€Saul€had€a€concubine,€whose€name€was€Rizpah,€the€daughter€of€Aiah:€andŠ Ģ&X" ŠIshbosheth€said€to€Abner,€Wherefore€hast€thou€gone€in€unto€my€fatherššs€concubine?Šø'D #!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäp|ć#ŌĢŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌWe€have€already€documented€the€multiple€wives€of€David,€but€that€in€no€way€approached€unto€thatŠ )"% Šof€his€son€Solomon€who€we€read€about€in€1€Kings€11:3€which€says:Š |*#& ŠŠ h+ō#' Šą8  ą1€Kings€11:3Š t Š3€And€he€had€seven€hundred€wives,€princesses,€and€three€hundred€concubines:€and€hisŠ `ģ Šwives€turned€away€his€heart.ą8h!!ąŠL Ųh»h» ŠĢCan€you€imagine€the€tension,€strife,€and€confusion€which€must€have€existed€in€Solomonššs€home?Š $ ° ŠThrough€these€multiple€marriages,€Solomon€introduced€idolatry€and€child€sacrifice€into€Israel€fromŠ  œ Šwhich€she€never€recovered€until€all€the€twelve€tribes€were€sent€into€captivity.€Our€next€polygamousŠ ü ˆ Šincidents€involved€Jerahmeel€and€Caleb€in€1€Chronicles€chapter€2€where€we€see€the€following:Š č t ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp»ä#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Chronicles€2:25„26Š ĄL  Šņņ25€óóAnd€the€sons€of€Jerahmeel€the€firstborn€of€Hezron€were,€Ram€the€firstborn,€andŠ ¬8  ŠBunah,€and€Oren,€and€Ozem,€and€Ahijah.€ņņ26€óóJerahmeel€had€also€another€wife,€whoseŠ ˜$  Šname€was€Atarah;€she€was€the€mother€of€Onam.Š„ !! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp£č#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Chronicles€2:46„48Š \č  Šņņ46€óóAnd€Ephah,€Calebššs€concubine,€bare€Haran,€and€Moza,€and€Gazez:€and€Haran€begatŠ HŌ  ŠGazez.€ņņ47€óóAnd€the€sons€of€Jahdai;€Regem,€and€Jotham,€and€Geshan,€and€Pelet,€andŠ 4Ą ŠEphah,€and€Shaaph.€ņņ48€óóMaachah,€Calebššs€concubine,€bare€Sheber,€and€Tirhanah.Š ¬!! ŠĢThis€is€all€we€know€of€Jerahmeel€and€this€particular€Caleb.€No€further€mention€is€made€of€them€inŠ ų„ Šthe€Scriptures.€This€is€not€the€Caleb€from€the€book€of€Joshua€because€they€have€different€fathers.€TwoŠ äp Šother€men€of€whom€we€know€little€who€had€two€wives€each€were€Ashur€and€Shaharaim.€TheirŠ Š\ Šmarriages€are€recorded€in€1€Chronicles€4:5€and€1€Chronicles€8:8€where€it€is€written:Š ¼H ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp`ź#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Chronicles€4:5Š ”  Šņņ5€óóAnd€Ashur€the€father€of€Tekoa€had€two€wives,€Helah€and€Naarah.Š€ !! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpķķ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Chronicles€8:8Š X ä Šņņ8€óóAnd€Shaharaim€begat€children€in€the€country€of€Moab,€after€he€had€sent€them€away;Š D!Š ŠHushim€and€Baara€were€his€wives.Ō#†XäpXX Xäpéī#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ0"¼!! ŠĢOur€next€polygamist€is€the€first€Judean€king€Rehoboam,€the€son€of€Solomon.€Quoting€from€2Š $” ŠChronicles€11:21€we€read:Š ō$€  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpßļ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Chronicles€11:21Š Ģ&X" Šņņ21€óóAnd€Rehoboam€loved€Maachah€the€daughter€of€Absalom€above€all€his€wives€andŠ ø'D # Šhis€concubines:€(for€he€took€eighteen€wives,€and€threescore€concubines;€and€begatŠ ¤(0!$ Štwenty€and€eight€sons,€and€threescore€daughters.)Š)"%!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäpźš#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX Xäprņ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌRehoboam€nowhere€near€approached€unto€his€father€Solomon.€We€do€not€have€a€clue€how€manyŠ h+ō#' Šchildren€Solomon€had,€but€Rehoboam€only€averaged€about€one€child€per€wife/concubine€having€aŠ t Štotal€of€88€children.€We€know€from€2€Chronicles€13:21€that€the€Judean€king€Abijah€had€fourteenŠ `ģ Šwives:Š L Ų ŠĢą8  ą2€Chronicles€13:21Š $ ° Šņņ21€óóBut€Abijah€waxed€mighty,€and€married€fourteen€wives,€and€begat€twenty€and€twoŠ  œ Šsons,€and€sixteen€daughters.Šü ˆ!! ŠĢFrom€2€Chronicles€21:17€we€know€that€the€Judean€king€Jehoram€had€at€least€two€wives€because€thatŠ Ō` Šverse€says:Š ĄL  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpµņ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Chronicles€21:17Š ˜$  Šņņ17€óóAnd€they€came€up€into€Judah,€and€brake€into€it,€and€carried€away€all€the€substanceŠ „  Šthat€was€found€in€the€kingššs€house,€and€his€sons€also,€and€his€wives;€so€that€there€wasŠ pü  Šnever€a€son€left€him,€save€Jehoahaz,€the€youngest€of€his€sons.ą8@ !!ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpįõ#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ \č  ŠĢą  ąOur€next€man€having€multiple€wives€is€the€Judean€king€Joash€in€2€Chronicles€24:2„3€whichŠ 4Ą Šstates:Š  ¬ ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäp|÷#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢą8  ą2€Chronicles€24:2„3€Šų„!! Šą8  ą2€And€Joash€didņņ€that€which€wasóó€right€in€the€sight€of€the€LORD€all€the€days€of€JehoiadaŠ äp Šthe€priest.€3€And€Jehoiada€took€for€him€two€wives;€and€he€begat€sons€and€daughters.Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpių#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠŠ\!! ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp»ł#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌChronologically,€our€last€case€of€polygamy€recorded€by€name€in€the€Old€Testament€is€that€of€Ō#†XäpXX Xäpś#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌtheŠ Ø4 ŠJudean€king€Jehoiachin.€This€is€recorded€in€2€Kings€24:15€and€says:Š ”  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp»ś#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Kings€24:15Š lų Šņņ15€óóAnd€he€carried€away€Jehoiachin€to€Babylon,€and€the€kingššs€mother,€and€the€kingššsŠ X ä Šwives,€and€his€officers,€and€the€mighty€of€the€land,€those€carried€he€into€captivity€fromŠ D!Š ŠJerusalem€to€Babylon.Š0"¼!! ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX Xäpzū#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌą  ąWhile€Jehoiachinššs€case€was€the€last€incident€of€polygamy€recorded€in€the€Old€Testament€byŠ $” Šname,€it€is€quite€likely€there€was€a€huge€case€of€polygamy€involving€all€the€people€of€Israel€and€allŠ ō$€  Štheir€priests€upon€their€return€from€their€Babylonian€captivity€because€God€required€all€of€themŠ ą%l! Šincluding€the€priests€to€put€away€their€strange€wives€in€Ezra€chapter€10.€These€strange€wives€were€theŠ Ģ&X" Špagans€that€God€had€commanded€them€not€to€marry.€What€we€have€seen€on€our€excursion€throughŠ ø'D # Šthe€Old€Testament€halls€of€polygamy€is€that€there€was€a€total€of€twenty€(20)€polygamous€marriagesŠ ¤(0!$ Šmentioned€by€name.€Those€mentioned€by€name€were€Lamech,€Abraham,€Nahor,€Jacob,€Esau,Š )"% ŠMoses(?),€Gideon,€Elkanah,€Saul,€David,€Solomon,€Jerahmeel,€Caleb,€Ashur,€Shaharaim,€Rehoboam,Š |*#& ŠAbijah,€Jehoram,€Joash,€and€Jehoiachin.€€Š h+ō#' Šņ ņó óŌ#†XäpXX2Xäpöü#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌą  ąThere€are€no€New€Testament€examples€of€a€man€having€more€than€one€wife€at€a€time,€but€weŠ t Šknow€that€it€was€a€problem€both€from€the€Bible€and€secular€history.€We€know€that€it€was€BiblicallyŠ `ģ Šthe€case€€because€the€Holy€Ghost€prohibited€polygamous€marriages€in€1€Timothy€3:2€for€bishops,€inŠ L Ų Š1€Timothy€3:12€for€deacons,€and€again€for€bishops€in€Titus€1:6€when€he€said€that€bishops€and€deaconsŠ 8 Ä Šmust€be€š šthe€husband€of€one€wifešš.€We€also€know€that€it€was€a€problem€in€secular€society€from€theŠ $ ° Š1906€Jewish€Encyclopedia€and€the€writings€of€the€Jewish€historian€Josephus€which€we€now€quote:€Š  œ ŠĢą8  ąJosephus€and€the€Talmud.Šč t!! Šą8  ąThat€polygamy€survived€into€the€Christian€era€is,€however,€asserted€by€JosephusŠ Ō` Š(š šAnt.šš€xvii.€1,€šš€2);€and€he€himself€(š šVita,šš€šš€75)€seems€to€have€had€one€wife€inŠ ĄL  ŠPalestine€and€another€in€Egypt€(comp.€Lw,€š šGesammelte€Schriften,šš€iii.€47).€SuchŠ ¬8  Ša€practise€is€forbidden€by€a€baraita€in€Yeb.€37a;€and€this€prohibition€is€(with€certainŠ ˜$  Šlimitations)€introduced€into€the€Shulh.an€ššAruk€(Eben€ha-ššEzer,€ii.€11).€The€TalmudŠ „  Šcertainly€does€not€enact€monogamy€(see€Bigamy);€and€as€far€as€the€Law€is,€concerned,Š pü  ŠJustin€Martyr€(š šDial.€cum€Tryph.šš€šš€134)€is€not€wrong€in€asserting€that€in€his€time€(2dŠ \č  Šcent.€C.E.)€Jews€were€permitted€to€have€four€or€five€wives.€(Cited€from€the€1906Š HŌ  ŠJewish€Encyclopedia€article€on€Monogamy:€Internet€Edition€located€at:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š 4Ą ŠŌ’ŌŌ4‚ n€ŌŻ‚ĶOŻŌ’’ŌņņŻ  ŻŌ5  Ōhttp://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10949-monogamyŌ6HŌŻ‚ĶO\d€maŻóóŌ’’ŌŻ  ŻŌ7n€ÖŠŌŌ’8Ō€)Š ¬!! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp&#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌNevertheless,€having€the€advantage€of€precedent,€it€was€long€before€polygamy€fell€intoŠ ų„ Šdisuse€in€Hebrew€society.€Herod€had€nine€wives€at€one€time€(Josephus,€Ant,€XVII,€I,Š äp Š2).€Justin€Martyr€(Dial.,€134,€141)€reproaches€Jews€of€his€day€with€having€š šfour€orŠ Š\ Ševen€five€wives,šš€and€for€š šmarrying€as€many€as€they€wishšš€(compare€Talm).€It€was€notŠ ¼H Šdefinitely€and€formally€forbidden€among€Jews€until€circa€1000€AD.€It€exists€stillŠ Ø4 Šamong€Jews€in€Moslem€lands.€[Ō#†XäpXX Xäp‹ #ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌCited€from€page€634€of€the€International€StandardŠ ”  ŠBible€Encyclopedia€(ISBE)€from€the€article€š šMarriagešš;€James€Orr,€General€Editor]Š€ !! ŠĢą8  ąHe€also€allotted€one€of€Aristobulusššs€daughters€to€Antipaterššs€son,€and€AristobulusššsŠ X ä Šother€daughter€to€Herod,€a€son€of€his€own,€who€was€born€to€him€by€the€high€priestššsŠ D!Š Šdaughter;€for€it€is€the€ancient€practice€among€us€to€have€many€wives€at€the€same€time.Š 0"¼ Š[Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp #ŌThe€Works€Of€Flavius€Josephus,€Book€17Ō‡2XäpXXXäpŌ,€Chapter€1,€Section€2€(14)]Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp{#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ#Ø!! ŠĢą8  ąņ ņó óNow€Herod€the€king€had€at€this€time€nine€wives;€one€of€them,€Antipaterššs€mother,€andŠ ō$€  Šanother€the€high€priestššs€daughter,€by€whom€he€had€a€son€of€his€own€name.€He€hadŠ ą%l! Šalso€one€who€was€his€brotherššs€daughter,€and€another€his€sisterššs€daughter;€which€twoŠ Ģ&X" Šhad€no€children.€Ō#†XäpXX2XäpŁ#Ō€[The€Works€Of€Flavius€Josephus,€Book€17,€chapter€1,€section€3(19),Š ø'D # Špage€452]Ō‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ¤(0!$!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąShe€also€frequently€reproached€Herodššs€sister€and€wives€with€the€ignobility€of€theirŠ |*#& Šdescent;€and€that€they€were€every€one€chosen€by€him€for€their€beauty,€but€not€for€theirŠ h+ō#' Šfamily.€Now€those€wives€of€his€were€not€a€few;€it€being€of€old€permitted€to€the€JewsŠ t Što€marry€many€wives,€š"š€and€this€king€delighting€in€many;€all€whom€hated€Alexander,Š `ģ Šon€account€of€Glaphyriaššs€boasting€and€reproaches.š€[Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp#ŌThe€Works€Of€Flavius€Josephus,Š L Ų ŠŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌWar€Of€The€Jews,€Chapter€24,€page€1351]€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäp©#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ8 Ä!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢą  ąThe€reason€we€presented€the€information€above€is€that€many€commentaries€state€that€theŠ  œ Špractice€of€polygamy€had€ceased€among€the€Jews€at€the€time€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ.€That€thatŠ ü ˆ Šstatement€is€untrue€can€be€documented€from€the€five€quotes€just€cited.€Flavius€Josephus€was€born€inŠ č t Š37€A.€D.€Justin€Martyr€died€in€165€A.€D.€The€article€on€marriage€from€the€ISBE€plainly€states€thatŠ Ō` Špolygamy€was€not€out€formally€forbidden€among€the€Jewish€people€until€1,000€A.€D.€and€that€theŠ ĄL  Špractice€still€continued€in€Moslem€lands€at€least€until€1929€which€was€the€original€copyright€year€forŠ ¬8  Šthe€ISBE.€Š ˜$  Šą  ąWe€have€used€a€lot€of€time€and€gone€into€a€great€deal€of€detail€to€document€the€prevalence€ofŠ „  Špolygamy€among€the€Jewish€people€for€several€reasons.€We€will€use€this€information€in€our€chapterŠ pü  Šdealing€with€š šStandards€For€Church€Servicešš€because€it€drives€to€the€issue€of€the€proper€interpretationŠ \č  Šof€1€Timothy€3:2€and€1€Timothy€3:12.€We€also€wanted€to€document€the€misery€that€polygamy€causedŠ HŌ  Šin€the€nation€of€Israel€because€it€departed€from€Godššs€ideal€for€marriage€given€in€Genesis€2:24.€WeŠ 4Ą Šalso€wanted€to€use€it€as€the€springboard€to€present€the€purity€and€absolute€oneness€of€the€Bride€ofŠ  ¬ ŠChrist€and€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€as€it€is€illustrated€in€type€by€the€perfect€unity€of€the€š šone€fleshššŠ  ˜ Šrelationship€of€husband€and€wife€established€by€God€in€Genesis€2.€In€that€perfect€unity€with€the€LordŠ ų„ ŠJesus€Christ€we€exist€in€an€eternal€state€of€innocence€that€cannot€be€corrupted€by€sin.€The€oneness€ofŠ äp Šthe€Bride€of€Christ€and€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€totally€destroys€the€myth€that€polygamy€was€institutedŠ Š\ Šby€God.Š ¼H Šą  ąAccording€to€Ephesians€5:30„32,€the€marriage€between€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€the€BrideŠ Ø4 Šof€Christ€has€already€taken€place.€These€verses€read:Š ”  ŠĢą8  ąEphesians€5:30„32Š lų Šņņ30€óóFor€we€are€members€of€his€body,€of€his€flesh,€and€of€his€bones.€ņņ31€óóFor€this€cause€shallŠ X ä Ša€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€shall€be€joined€unto€his€wife,€and€they€twoŠ D!Š Šshall€be€one€flesh.€ņņ32€óóThis€is€a€great€mystery:€but€I€speak€concerning€Christ€and€theŠ 0"¼ Šchurch.Š#Ø!! ŠĢThe€coming€Marriage€Supper€of€the€Lamb€in€Revelation€19€is€but€the€celebration€of€an€accomplishedŠ ō$€  Šfact.€The€Bible€teaches€that€the€church€and€its€members€have€become€one€flesh€with€the€Lord€JesusŠ ą%l! ŠChrist!€€Not€only€are€believers€one€flesh€with€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€but€they€are€one€spirit€with€theŠ Ģ&X" ŠLord€Jesus€Christ.€We€can€prove€this€from€1€Corinthians€6:15„20€which€states:Š ø'D # ŠĢą8  ą1€Corinthians€6:15„20Š )"% Šņņ15€óóKnow€ye€not€that€your€bodies€are€the€members€of€Christ?€shall€I€then€take€theŠ |*#& Šmembers€of€Christ,€and€make€them€the€members€of€an€harlot?€God€forbid.€ņņ16€óóWhat?Š h+ō#' Šknow€ye€not€that€he€which€is€joined€to€an€harlot€is€one€body?€for€two,€saith€he,€shallŠ t Šbe€one€flesh.€ņņ17€óóBut€he€that€is€joined€unto€the€Lord€is€one€spirit.€ņņ18€óóFlee€fornication.Š `ģ ŠEvery€sin€that€a€man€doeth€is€without€the€body;€but€he€that€committeth€fornicationŠ L Ų Šsinneth€against€his€own€body.€ņņ19€óóWhat?€know€ye€not€that€your€body€is€the€temple€of€theŠ 8 Ä ŠHoly€Ghost€which€is€in€you,€which€ye€have€of€God,€and€ye€are€not€your€own?€ņņ20€óóForŠ $ ° Šye€are€bought€with€a€price:€therefore€glorify€God€in€your€body,€and€in€your€spirit,Š  œ Šwhich€are€Godššs.Šü ˆ!! Šą8  ąŠ !! ŠThis€idea€of€oneness€in€Christ€is€pictured€in€the€Old€Testament€in€Malachi€2:14„16€which€tells€us:Š Ō` ŠĢą8  ąMalachi€2:14„16Š ¬8  Š14€Yet€ye€say,€Wherefore?€Because€the€LORD€hath€been€witness€between€thee€and€theŠ ˜$  Šwife€of€thy€youth,€against€whom€thou€hast€dealt€treacherously:€yet€is€she€thyŠ „  Šcompanion,€and€the€wife€of€thy€covenant.€15€And€did€not€he€make€one?€Yet€had€heŠ pü  Šthe€residue€of€the€spirit.€And€wherefore€one?€That€he€might€seek€a€godly€seed.Š \č  ŠTherefore€take€heed€to€your€spirit,€and€let€none€deal€treacherously€against€the€wife€ofŠ HŌ  Šhis€youth.€16€For€the€LORD,€the€God€of€Israel,€saith€that€he€hateth€putting€away:€forŠ 4Ą Šone€covereth€violence€with€his€garment,€saith€the€LORD€of€hosts:€therefore€take€heedŠ  ¬ Što€your€spirit,€that€ye€deal€not€treacherously.Š ˜!! ŠĢMalachi€2:14„16€€does€not€say€wives.€It€says€wife€(singular).€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€rebuking€theŠ äp ŠPharisees€for€their€licentious€interpretation€and€application€of€Deuteronomy€24:1„4,€cites€Genesis€2:24Š Š\ Šwhen€he€had€this€to€say€in€Matthew€19:Š ¼H ŠĢą8  ąMatthew€19:4„6Š ”  Š4€And€he€answered€and€said€unto€them,€Have€ye€not€read,€that€he€which€made€themŠ €  Šat€the€beginning€made€them€male€and€female,€5€And€said,€For€this€cause€shall€a€manŠ lų Šleave€father€and€mother,€and€shall€cleave€to€his€wife:€and€they€twain€shall€be€oneŠ X ä Šflesh?€6€Wherefore€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€one€flesh.€What€therefore€God€hathŠ D!Š Šjoined€together,€let€not€man€put€asunder.Š0"¼!! ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€2:24Š $” Š24€Therefore€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€his€mother,€and€shall€cleave€unto€hisŠ ō$€  Šwife:€and€they€shall€be€one€flesh.Šą%l!!! ŠĢThis€statement€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€would€also€rule€out€polygamous,€polygynous,€and€polyandrousŠ ø'D # Šmarriages€because€it€states€that€TWO€would€become€ONE€flesh.€It€does€not€say€that€two€or€moreŠ ¤(0!$ Šbecame€one€flesh.€It€also€rules€out€the€abomination€of€same€sex€unions€because€the€scripturalŠ )"% Šqualifications€are€MALE€AND€FEMALE.€It€is€obvious€from€Genesis€2:24€and€Matthew€19:4„6€thatŠ |*#& ŠGodššs€original€intent€from€the€beginning€was€one€man€and€one€woman€for€a€lifetime.€God€hatesŠ h+ō#' Šputting€away.€In€2€Corinthians€11:2,€Paul€stated€that€the€espousal€of€the€Church€was€to€ONE€husband.Š t ŠThe€Church€is€not€many€brides,€but€one€bride.€The€oneness€of€that€relationship€is€emphasized€veryŠ `ģ Šstrongly€in€Ephesians€4:2„6.€These€verses€state:Š L Ų ŠĢą8  ąEphesians€4:2„6Š $ ° Š2€With€all€lowliness€and€meekness,€with€longsuffering,€forbearing€one€another€in€love;Š  œ Š3€Endeavouring€to€keep€the€unity€of€the€Spirit€in€the€bond€of€peace.€4€There€is€oneŠ ü ˆ Šbody,€and€one€Spirit,€even€as€ye€are€called€in€one€hope€of€your€calling;€5€One€Lord,Š č t Šone€faith,€one€baptism,€6€One€God€and€Father€of€all,€who€is€above€all,€and€through€all,Š Ō` Šand€in€you€all.ŠĄL !! ŠĢIn€Ephesians€5:22„33,€the€husband€and€wife€relationship€of€Genesis€2:24€is€presented€as€a€type€of€theŠ ˜$  Šrelationship€between€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€His€Bride,€the€church.€These€verses€read:Š „  ŠĢą8  ąEphesians€5:22„33Š \č  Š22€Wives,€submit€yourselves€unto€your€own€husbands,€as€unto€the€Lord.€23€For€theŠ HŌ  Šhusband€is€the€head€of€the€wife,€even€as€Christ€is€the€head€of€the€church:€and€he€is€theŠ 4Ą Šsaviour€of€the€body.€24€Therefore€as€the€church€is€subject€unto€Christ,€so€let€the€wivesŠ  ¬ Šbe€to€their€own€husbands€in€every€thing.€25€Husbands,€love€your€wives,€even€as€ChristŠ  ˜ Šalso€loved€the€church,€and€gave€himself€for€it;€26€That€he€might€sanctify€and€cleanseŠ ų„ Šit€with€the€washing€of€water€by€the€word,€27€That€he€might€present€it€to€himself€aŠ äp Šglorious€church,€not€having€spot,€or€wrinkle,€or€any€such€thing;€but€that€it€should€beŠ Š\ Šholy€and€without€blemish.€28€So€ought€men€to€love€their€wives€as€their€own€bodies.Š ¼H ŠHe€that€loveth€his€wife€loveth€himself.€29€For€no€man€ever€yet€hated€his€own€flesh;€butŠ Ø4 Šnourisheth€and€cherisheth€it,€even€as€the€Lord€the€church:€30€For€we€are€members€ofŠ ”  Šhis€body,€of€his€flesh,€and€of€his€bones.€31€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€his€fatherŠ €  Šand€mother,€and€shall€be€joined€unto€his€wife,€and€they€two€shall€be€one€flesh.€32€ThisŠ lų Šis€a€great€mystery:€but€I€speak€concerning€Christ€and€the€church.€33€Nevertheless€letŠ X ä Ševery€one€of€you€in€particular€so€love€his€wife€even€as€himself;€and€the€wife€see€thatŠ D!Š Šshe€reverence€her€husband.Š0"¼!! ŠĢThe€oneness€of€this€relationship€is€emphasized€over€and€over€again€by€the€apostle€Paul€in€RomansŠ $” Š12:4„5,€1€Corinthians€10:17,€1€Corinthians€12:12„13,€1€Corinthians€12:20,€Ephesians€2:16,€EphesiansŠ ō$€  Š4:4,€and€Colossians€3:15.€These€verses€read:Š ą%l! ŠĢą8  ąRomans€12:4„5Š ø'D # Š4€For€as€we€have€many€members€in€one€body,€and€all€members€have€not€the€sameŠ ¤(0!$ Šoffice:€5€So€we,€being€many,€are€one€body€in€Christ,€and€every€one€members€one€ofŠ )"% Šanother.Š|*#&!! Šą8  ąŠh+ō#'!! Šą8  ą1€Corinthians€10:17Š t Š17€For€we€being€many€are€one€bread,€and€one€body:€for€we€are€all€partakers€of€that€oneŠ `ģ Šbread.ŠL Ų!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ą1€Corinthians€12:12„13Š $ ° Š12€For€as€the€body€is€one,€and€hath€many€members,€and€all€the€members€of€that€oneŠ  œ Šbody,€being€many,€are€one€body:€so€also€is€Christ.€13€For€by€one€Spirit€are€we€allŠ ü ˆ Šbaptized€into€one€body,€whether€we€be€Jews€or€Gentiles,€whether€we€be€bond€or€free;Š č t Šand€have€been€all€made€to€drink€into€one€Spirit.ŠŌ`!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ą1€Corinthians€12:20Š ¬8  Š20€But€now€are€they€many€members,€yet€but€one€body.Š˜$ !! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąEphesians€2:16Š pü  Š16€And€that€he€might€reconcile€both€unto€God€in€one€body€by€the€cross,€having€slainŠ \č  Šthe€enmity€thereby:ą8!!ąŠHŌ  Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąEphesians€4:4Š  ¬ Š4€There€is€one€body,€and€one€Spirit,€even€as€ye€are€called€in€one€hope€of€your€calling;Š ˜!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąColossians€3:15Š äp Š15€And€let€the€peace€of€God€rule€in€your€hearts,€to€the€which€also€ye€are€called€in€oneŠ Š\ Šbody;€and€be€ye€thankful.Š¼H!! ŠĢThat€one€body€that€is€called€out€over€and€over€in€these€Scriptures€is€the€Bride€Of€Christ.€Ō#†XäpXX2Xäpt#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌThisŠ ”  Šemphasis€€over€and€over€upon€one€body€finds€it€culmination€in€Revelation€19:6„8€where€a€single€BrideŠ €  Šis€presented€to€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€in€all€of€her€glory.€Since€this€single€Bride€and€single€BridegroomŠ lų Šrepresents€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€and€His€Church€we€can€emphatically€state€that€God€never€intendedŠ X ä Šfor€us€to€have€multiple€spouses,€but€that€he€allowed€it€because€of€the€lack€of€faith€of€men€and€womenŠ D!Š Šand€because€of€the€hardness€of€their€hearts.Ō#†XäpXX2XäpB#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŠ 0"¼ ŠŌ#†XäpXX2Xäp}D#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌĢņ ņŌ#†XäpXX2XäpŌD#ŌŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌŌ’Ōą@¼ ¼ ąŌ’9EŌSEPARATION€IN€CHOOSING€A€SPOUSEó óŌ#†XäpXX2XäpE#ŌˆŠ $” ŠĢŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌą  ąNext€to€salvation,€one€of€the€most€important€decisions€a€Christian€€will€ever€make€is€the€oneŠ ą%l! Šthat€leads€to€their€marriage€to€their€spouse.€Who€will€your€spouse€be??€It€has€always€been€GodššsŠ Ģ&X" Šcommand€to€his€people€that€they€would€not€marry€pagans.€In€Godššs€plan,€Jews€were€to€marry€JewsŠ ø'D # Šand€after€the€resurrection€of€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ,€Christians€were€to€marry€Christians.€€Put€simply,Š ¤(0!$ Šthis€means€that€a€believer€cannot€marry€an€unbeliever.€In€the€Old€Testament,€it€was€a€lot€easier€to€keepŠ )"% Šthis€commandment€because€all€you€had€to€do€was€marry€someone€who€was€physically€born€anŠ |*#& ŠIsraelite.€In€the€New€Testament,€the€decision€becomes€much€more€complex€because€you€have€to€makeŠ h+ō#' Ša€spiritually€discerned€judgment€as€to€whether€a€person€is€born€again€spiritually.€That€is,€are€they€aŠ t Šborn€again€Christian?€That€decision€is€very€difficult€to€make€on€short€notice€most€of€the€time€unlessŠ `ģ Šthere€is€direct€intervention€from€the€Holy€Ghost€of€God.€Whether€to€marry€someone€should€be€aŠ L Ų Šspiritually€discerned€decision€making€process.€Unless€you€have€known€and€experienced€someoneššsŠ 8 Ä Šspiritual€testimony€for€a€long€time€before€you€think€you€have€fallen€in€love€with€them,€you€had€betterŠ $ ° Štake€much€time€in€trying€to€spiritually€discern€whether€they€know€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€as€theirŠ  œ Špersonal€Saviour.€You€need€to€question€your€potential€spouse€about€when€and€how€they€received€theŠ ü ˆ ŠLord€Jesus€Christ.€If€you€have€any€reservation€about€doing€this,€you€had€better€heed€the€red€flag€theŠ č t ŠHoly€Ghost€has€run€up€for€you€and€run€from€that€individual.€You€need€to€observe€their€lifestyle.€IsŠ Ō` Štheir€everyday€decision€making€process€one€that€seeks€to€honor€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ?€What€is€theirŠ ĄL  Šmanner€of€speech€and€dress€when€they€are€away€from€the€house€of€God?€Do€they€feed€you€a€constantŠ ¬8  Šdiet€of€anything€but€Jesus?€Is€their€focus€upon€worldly€entertainment?€What€do€they€believe€aboutŠ ˜$  Šholiness€and€biblical€separation?€What€do€they€believe€about€the€Bible€and€Bible€doctrines?€Most€ofŠ „  Šthe€time€the€rush€to€marry€is€the€rush€to€fulfill€lust.€Before€you€have€a€physical€relationship€withŠ pü  Šsomeone,€you€had€better€establish€a€spiritual€relationship€with€them.€Before€you€have€a€physicalŠ \č  Šrelationship€with€someone,€you€had€better€establish€Ō#†XäpXX XäpĖE#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌa€Holy€Ghost€informed€emotional€relationshipŠ HŌ  Šwith€them.€God€absolutely€forbids€pre€marital€sexual€relationships.€Have€a€sexual€relationship€withŠ 4Ą Šsomeone€makes€you€married€to€them€in€the€eyes€of€God.€People€who€get€married€following€extendedŠ  ¬ Šsexual€relationships€experience€the€highest€rates€of€divorce€in€the€United€States.Ō#†XäpXX Xäp„P#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ€If€someone€wantsŠ  ˜ Što€try€you€out€before€they€marry€you,€it€means€that€they€do€not€love€you€after€a€Godly€fashion.€IfŠ ų„ Šsomeone€keeps€pushing€you€about€a€sexual€relationship,€it€is€a€very€strong€indication€that€they€are€inŠ äp Šopen€rebellion€to€God.€A€person€that€is€in€open€rebellion€to€God€may€not€be€saved.€If€you€areŠ Š\ Šconsidering€marrying€someone,€ask€God€over€and€over€again€to€direct€your€paths€in€a€direction€thatŠ ¼H Šwould€not€be€displeasing€to€Him.Š Ø4 Šą  ąWe€are€going€to€quote€several€passages€of€Scripture€governing€Godššs€commands€in€choosingŠ ”  Ša€spouse€and€make€a€few€brief€comments.€Turn€in€your€Bibles€to€Genesis€24:3„4:Š €  ŠĢą8  ąGenesis€24:3„4Š X ä Šņņ3€óóAnd€I€will€make€thee€swear€by€the€LORD,€the€God€of€heaven,€and€the€God€of€theŠ D!Š Šearth,€that€thou€shalt€not€take€a€wife€unto€my€son€of€the€daughters€of€the€Canaanites,Š 0"¼ Šamong€whom€I€dwell:€ņņ4€óóBut€thou€shalt€go€unto€my€country,€and€to€my€kindred,€andŠ #Ø Štake€a€wife€unto€my€son€Isaac.Š$”!! ŠĢą  ąAbraham€here€is€beseeching€his€servant€to€search€out€a€wife€for€his€son.€In€this€passage€ofŠ ą%l! ŠScripture€Abrahamššs€servant€is€a€type€of€the€Holy€Ghost.€We€are€to€beseech€the€Holy€Ghost€to€directŠ Ģ&X" Šus€in€our€search€for€a€mate.€Abrahamššs€charge€to€his€servant€here€is€that€he€not€bring€a€daughter€ofŠ ø'D # Šthe€Canaanites;€in€other€words€a€pagan.€Now€turn€in€your€Bibles€to€Genesis€chapter€28€where€we€read:Š ¤(0!$ ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpER#ŌĢą8  ąŌ‡2XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€28:1Š |*#& Š1€And€Isaac€called€Jacob,€and€blessed€him,€and€charged€him,€and€said€unto€him,€ThouŠ h+ō#' Šshalt€not€take€a€wife€of€the€daughters€of€Canaan.Ō#†XäpXX2XäpCY#ŌŠt!! Šą8  ąŠ !! Šą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌGenesis€28:6„9Š L Ų Šņņ6€óóWhen€Esau€saw€that€Isaac€had€blessed€Jacob,€and€sent€him€away€to€Padanaram,€toŠ 8 Ä Štake€him€a€wife€from€thence;€and€that€as€he€blessed€him€he€gave€him€a€charge,€saying,Š $ ° ŠThou€shalt€not€take€a€wife€of€the€daughters€of€Canaan;€ņņ7€óóAnd€that€Jacob€obeyed€hisŠ  œ Šfather€and€his€mother,€and€was€gone€to€Padanaram;€ņņ8€óóAnd€Esau€seeing€that€theŠ ü ˆ Šdaughters€of€Canaan€pleased€not€Isaac€his€father;€ņņ9€óóThen€went€Esau€unto€Ishmael,€andŠ č t Štook€unto€the€wives€which€he€had€Mahalath€the€daughter€of€Ishmael€Abrahamššs€son,Š Ō` Šthe€sister€of€Nebajoth,€to€be€his€wife.ŠĄL !! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpŽZ#ŌĢą  ąIn€this€passage€of€Scripture,€we€see€Isaacššs€charge€to€his€son€Jacob€that€he€not€take€a€wife€ofŠ ˜$  Šthe€daughters€of€Canaan.€It€is€the€identical€charge€that€was€given€to€Abrahamššs€elder€servantŠ „  Šconcerning€Isaacššs€future€wife.€She€was€not€to€be€a€pagan€unbeliever.€We€cannot€emphasize€stronglyŠ pü  Šenough€the€need€for€parents€to€properly€train€up€their€children€in€all€Biblical€precepts€including€thoseŠ \č  Šon€how€to€evaluate€whether€a€particular€individual€is€the€choice€God€would€have€them€to€make.€TrainŠ HŌ  Šthem€to€seek€Godššs€will€in€this€matter€of€marriage.€Charge€them€not€to€marry€and€unbeliever.€TurnŠ 4Ą Šnow€in€your€Bibles€to€Exodus€34:12„16€and€let€us€begin€reading:Š  ¬ ŠĢą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌExodus€34:12„16Š ų„ Šņņ12€óóTake€heed€to€thyself,€lest€thou€make€a€covenant€with€the€inhabitants€of€the€landŠ äp Šwhither€thou€goest,€lest€it€be€for€a€snare€in€the€midst€of€thee:€ņņ13€óóBut€ye€shall€destroyŠ Š\ Štheir€altars,€break€their€images,€and€cut€down€their€groves:€ņņ14€óóFor€thou€shalt€worshipŠ ¼H Šno€other€god:€for€the€LORD,€whose€name€is€Jealous,€is€a€jealous€God:€ņņ15€óóLest€thouŠ Ø4 Šmake€a€covenant€with€the€inhabitants€of€the€land,€and€they€go€a€whoring€after€theirŠ ”  Šgods,€and€do€sacrifice€unto€their€gods,€and€one€call€thee,€and€thou€eat€of€his€sacrifice;Š €  Šņņ16€óóAnd€thou€take€of€their€daughters€unto€thy€sons,€and€their€daughters€go€a€whoringŠ lų Šafter€their€gods,€and€make€thy€sons€go€a€whoring€after€their€gods.ŠX ä!! ŠĢŌ#†XäpXX Xäpü`#Ōą  ąGodššs€charge€to€the€nation€of€Israel,€their€fathers€and€their€mothers,€and€their€sons€andŠ 0"¼ Šdaughters€was€not€to€make€a€covenant€with€the€wicked,€pagan€inhabitants€of€Canaan€land€which€theyŠ #Ø Šwere€about€to€enter.€Their€altars,€their€images,€and€their€groves€were€instruments€that€they€used€toŠ $” Šworship€their€pagan€gods.€God€will€not€allow€his€people€to€worship€other€gods€and€be€in€fellowshipŠ ō$€  Šwith€Him.€Godššs€warning€was€that€if€their€sons€and€daughters€married€into€pagan€families,€that€theyŠ ą%l! Šwould€fall€into€idolatry€and€go€a€whoring€after€their€gods.€You€cannot€marry€a€known€unbeliever€andŠ Ģ&X" Šexpect€to€change€them€after€you€marry€them.€That€is€not€Godššs€way€and€is€the€surest€way€to€beŠ ø'D # Šdeceived€by€Satan.€€They€will€corrupt€you.€It€only€takes€a€little€bit€of€dirt€to€be€dirty€and€if€you€ignoreŠ ¤(0!$ Šit€long€enough,€you€will€be€filthy€after€a€while€and€vex€your€righteous€soul€with€the€works€of€theŠ )"% Šwicked.€Now€letššs€go€to€Deuteronomy€7€verses€2€and€3€where€it€is€written:Š |*#& ŠŠ h+ō#' Šą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌDeuteronomy€7:2„3Š t Šņņ2€óóAnd€when€the€LORD€thy€God€shall€deliver€them€before€thee;€thou€shalt€smite€them,Š `ģ Šand€utterly€destroy€them;€thou€shalt€make€no€covenant€with€them,€nor€shew€mercyŠ L Ų Šunto€them:€ņņ3€óóNeither€shalt€thou€make€marriages€with€them;€thy€daughter€thou€shalt€notŠ 8 Ä Šgive€unto€his€son,€nor€his€daughter€shalt€thou€take€unto€thy€son.Š$ °!! ŠĢÓ  ÓÓ  Óą  ąHere€is€yet€another€admonishment€from€God€that€the€sons€and€daughters€of€Israel€were€not€toŠ ü ˆ Šmake€marriages€with€the€pagans€that€lived€in€the€Promised€Land.€How€often€this€admonishment€wasŠ č t Šignored€by€the€children€of€Israel€and€ultimately€it€was€their€pagan€marriages€that€lead€to€their€beingŠ Ō` Šexiled€from€the€Promised€Land€for€almost€1,900€years€not€to€count€the€numerous€holocausts€andŠ ĄL  Špogroms€that€they€suffered€at€the€hands€of€the€pagans€that€they€had€intermarried€with.€There€is€aŠ ¬8  Šterrible€cost€to€be€paid€if€you€disobey€Godššs€command€not€to€marry€unbelievers.€A€further€illustrationŠ ˜$  Šof€the€pain€caused€by€the€violation€of€this€precept€is€contained€in€Ezra€chapter€9€verses€1€and€2€andŠ „  ŠEzra€chapter€10€verses€2€and€3.€These€verses€state:Š pü  ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäp‹i#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌEzra€9:1„2Š HŌ  Šņņ1€óóNow€when€these€things€were€done,€the€princes€came€to€me,€saying,€The€people€ofŠ 4Ą ŠIsrael,€and€the€priests,€and€the€Levites,€have€not€separated€themselves€from€the€peopleŠ  ¬ Šof€the€lands,€doing€according€to€their€abominations,€even€of€the€Canaanites,€theŠ  ˜ ŠHittites,€the€Perizzites,€the€Jebusites,€the€Ammonites,€the€Moabites,€the€Egyptians,€andŠ ų„ Šthe€Amorites.€ņņ2€óóFor€they€have€taken€of€their€daughters€for€themselves,€and€for€theirŠ äp Šsons:€so€that€the€holy€seed€have€mingled€themselves€with€the€people€of€those€lands:Š Š\ Šyea,€the€hand€of€the€princes€and€rulers€hath€been€chief€in€this€trespass.Ō#†XäpXX XäpNo#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ¼H!! ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpyr#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌEzra€10:2„3Š ”  Šņņ2€óóAnd€Shechaniah€the€son€of€Jehiel,€one€of€the€sons€of€Elam,€answered€and€said€untoŠ €  ŠEzra,€We€have€trespassed€against€our€God,€and€have€taken€strange€wives€of€the€peopleŠ lų Šof€the€land:€yet€now€there€is€hope€in€Israel€concerning€this€thing.€ņņ3€óóNow€therefore€letŠ X ä Šus€make€a€covenant€with€our€God€to€put€away€all€the€wives,€and€such€as€are€born€ofŠ D!Š Šthem,€according€to€the€counsel€of€my€lord,€and€of€those€that€tremble€at€theŠ 0"¼ Šcommandment€of€our€God;€and€let€it€be€done€according€to€the€law.Š#Ø!! ŠĢą  ąHere€in€Ezra€10,€God€has€commanded€them€to€put€away€all€their€pagan€wives€and€all€theirŠ ō$€  Šchildren€born€of€those€pagan€wives.€What€a€painful€experience€that€was€for€them.€Note€also€from€EzraŠ ą%l! Š9:1„2€that€it€was€not€just€the€people€that€had€been€guilty€of€intermarrying€with€pagans,€but€the€priestsŠ Ģ&X" Šwere€also€guilty€of€intermarrying€with€pagans.€Can€you€imagine€the€weeping€and€wailing€that€wasŠ ø'D # Šgoing€on€here.€The€priests€had€to€give€a€trespass€offering€before€they€could€continue€to€offer€theŠ ¤(0!$ Šsacrifices.€Note€that€the€separation€ordered€here€had€nothing€to€do€with€race.€The€separation€was€aŠ )"% Šseparation€from€those€who€believed€in€pagan€gods.€It€was€a€separation€based€upon€things€spiritual€andŠ |*#& Šnot€upon€physical€characteristics.€Following€this€cleansing€of€the€people€and€the€priesthood€the€peopleŠ h+ō#' Šand€the€priesthood€entered€into€an€oath€to€keep€themselves€clear€from€the€pagans.€This€oath€isŠ t Šrecorded€in€Nehemiah€10:29„30€and€states:Ō#†XäpXX Xäpēr#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌŠ `ģ ŠĢą8  ąŌ#†XäpXX Xäpz#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌNehemiah€10:29„30Š 8 Ä Šņņ29€óóThey€clave€to€their€brethren,€their€nobles,€and€entered€into€a€curse,€and€into€an€oath,Š $ ° Što€walk€in€Godššs€law,€which€was€given€by€Moses€the€servant€of€God,€and€to€observeŠ  œ Šand€do€all€the€commandments€of€the€LORD€our€Lord,€and€his€judgments€and€hisŠ ü ˆ Šstatutes;€ņņ30€óóAnd€that€we€would€not€give€our€daughters€unto€the€people€of€the€land,€norŠ č t Štake€their€daughters€for€our€sons:ŠŌ`!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX Xäpz#ŌŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌĢŌ#†XäpXX XäpŚ|#Ōą  ąThese€commandments€to€be€a€separate€people€and€not€to€intermarry€with€pagans€were€notŠ ¬8  Šisolated€to€the€Old€Testament.€The€Holy€Ghostššs€command€to€Christian€widows€that€are€seeking€toŠ ˜$  Šremarry€is€that€they€seek€out€a€fellow€believer.€We€see€this€in€1€Corinthians€7:39€which€says:Š „  ŠĢą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ1€Corinthians€7:39Š \č  Šņņ39€óóThe€wife€is€bound€by€the€law€as€long€as€her€husband€liveth;€but€if€her€husband€beŠ HŌ  Šdead,€she€is€at€liberty€to€be€married€to€whom€she€will;€only€in€the€Lord.Š4Ą!! ŠŌ#†XäpXX XäpŠ~#ŌĢThat€is€what€the€meaning€of€š šonly€in€the€Lordšš€is.€It€means€that€a€Christian€must€seek€out€a€ChristianŠ  ˜ Šmate.€We€see€further€New€Testament€guidance€for€this€precept€in€2€Corinthians€6:14„18€where€theŠ ų„ ŠHoly€Ghosts€says:Š äp ŠĢą8  ąŌ‡ XäpXXXäpŌ2€Corinthians€6:14„18Š ¼H Šņņ14€óóBe€ye€not€unequally€yoked€together€with€unbelievers:€for€what€fellowship€hathŠ Ø4 Šrighteousness€with€unrighteousness?€and€what€communion€hath€light€with€darkness?Š ”  Šņņ15€óóAnd€what€concord€hath€Christ€with€Belial?€or€what€part€hath€he€that€believeth€withŠ €  Šan€infidel?€ņņ16€óóAnd€what€agreement€hath€the€temple€of€God€with€idols?€for€ye€are€theŠ lų Štemple€of€the€living€God;€as€God€hath€said,€I€will€dwell€in€them,€and€walk€in€them;Š X ä Šand€I€will€be€their€God,€and€they€shall€be€my€people.€ņņ17€óóWherefore€come€out€fromŠ D!Š Šamong€them,€and€be€ye€separate,€saith€the€Lord,€and€touch€not€the€unclean€thing;€andŠ 0"¼ ŠI€will€receive€you,€ņņ18€óóAnd€will€be€a€Father€unto€you,€and€ye€shall€be€my€sons€andŠ #Ø Šdaughters,€saith€the€Lord€Almighty.Š$”!! ŠĢWhat€this€passage€in€2€Corinthians€6€means€is€that€we€are€not€to€hook€up,€or€become€yoked,€withŠ ą%l! Šunbelievers€in€any€area€of€life€and€that€includes€marriage.€The€Lord€Jesus€Christ€does€not€fellowshipŠ Ģ&X" Šwith€Belial.€If€you€enter€into€a€marriage€with€an€unbeliever€you€are€entering€into€fellowship€with€theŠ ø'D # ŠDevil€(here€called€Belial).€Christians€are€light€and€the€unbelievers€are€darkness.€The€body€of€theŠ ¤(0!$ Šbeliever€is€the€temple€of€the€living€God€while€the€body€of€the€unbeliever€is€the€temple€of€Satan€whoŠ )"% Šis€the€god€of€this€world.€We€are€not€to€join€in€any€relationships€with€those€that€are€unsaved.€Ō#†XäpXX Xäpō€#ŌŠ |*#& ŠÓkÓņ ņó ó