Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5650 Human relationships » 5675 divorce » 5676 divorce, in OT Usually initiated by the husband who issued his wife with a certificate of divorce and sent her from his home, divorce broke the marriage bond and allowed parties to remarry. It was not part of God's original purpose for marriage, and is permitted only because of human sinfulness. God is depicted as taking divorce proceedings against adulterous Israel. The nature of divorce Divorce dissolves a marriage Mark 10:4 pp Matthew 19:7 The certificate of divorce was a legal document ending the marriage. See also Leviticus 22:12-13 Divorce ends the restrictions on a priest's daughter which were the result of her marriage; Numbers 30:9 Following divorce a husband is no longer responsible for his wife; Deuteronomy 24:1-2 Divorce properly entered into allows the parties to remarry; Hosea 2:2; Matthew 5:31 Divorce was not God's original intention Malachi 2:10-16 God's displeasure at those of his people who divorced their Jewish wives to marry foreigners, thus breaking faith with their partners and with God ; Matthew 19:4-8 pp Mark 10:5-9 The Law of Moses did not command divorce, but regulated an existing practice, particularly to protect the wife. See also Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:24 Circumstances permitting divorce Displeasure Deuteronomy 24:1 See also Deuteronomy 21:13-14; Matthew 19:3 Returning exiles were required to divorce their foreign wives Ezra 10:10-11 See also Ezra 10:2-3 Circumstances where divorce was not allowed Deuteronomy 22:13-19 where a husband makes false accusations about his wife's virginity; Deuteronomy 22:28-29 where the marriage is contracted following the rape of a virgin Restrictions on remarriage after divorce Former partners who marry others Deuteronomy 24:3-4 See also Jeremiah 3:1 Priests could not marry divorcees Leviticus 21:7,14; Ezekiel 44:22 The divorce between God and Israel It was due to Israel's unfaithfulness Jeremiah 3:6-10 See also Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 31:32 God's desire for reconciliation Isaiah 54:4-8 See also Isaiah 62:4-5; Ezekiel 16:60-63; Hosea 2:14-16 See also
5375 law |
  |