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MARRIAGE OF CAPTIVE WOMEN AND POLYGAMY
LORD’S DAY, OCTOBER 31
Deuteronomy 21:10-17

Ephesians 5:25-29

 

“So ought men to love their

wives as their own bodies…”

 

MARRIAGE OF CAPTIVE WOMEN AND POLYGAMY
 
The topic of war was revisited in connection with marriage. Fighting became a necessary part of the everyday life of Israel as they sought to occupy Canaan. Even when they had settled in the land, war was still with them. In times of peace, all nations maintained an army and a great store of arms to defend themselves from any potential enemy. There will be victims of war: either by death, maiming or captivity. The present law pertains to the treatment of captive women.
 
Israel was not allowed to kill the women and children but was to take them captive. Thus, when they took them captive, they might desire to take the women as wives. This process required some discipline as the captives also needed humane treatment. The man who desired would bring the woman home and shave her head and cut her nails. She would then be given one month to mourn the loss of her parents. These acts were tokens of her purification and separation from heathen idolatry unto the true God of Israel. Then the man could marry her. If he did not wish to marry her, then he was obliged to set her free unconditionally. God loves all people and He is the advocate for the disadvantaged, thus He gave laws to Israel to safeguard the welfare of the captives.
 
Polygamy and divorce were prevalent among the children of Israel because of the hardness of their hearts. There was ambiguity in their understanding of the law of marriage, thus the people married as they desired. Long before Israel became a nation, most of the patriarchs mentioned in the Bible were polygamous. However, none of such marriages had the harmony or love desired of a family unit. The Lord also knows that a man cannot love two women equally. As there probably will be children, the Lord counsels a man who has two wives that the relationship he has with his wives must not negatively impact the children. A man will love one woman and hate another. If the firstborn son was born of the hated wife, the son will have all the rights of the firstborn regardless of the parents’ relationship.
 
THOUGHT: God does not forsake the disadvantaged.

PRAYER: Father, help us to sustain good, godly relationships.

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