Dictionary of Bible Themes The OT law forbade intermarriage with people who worshipped idols because it threatened the covenant relationship with God and his people. Marriage with close relations was also forbidden. Remarriage is permissible following the death of a spouse and, in certain circumstances, following divorce. Genesis 38:2; 41:45Intermarriage with foreigners Exodus 2:21Examples of marriages to foreigners Leviticus 24:10Ruth 1:4 1 Chronicles 2:34-35 Ezra 10:18-44 Exodus 34:16 See also Warnings against marrying foreigners Deuteronomy 7:3-4Joshua 23:12-13 Judges 3:5-6 1 Kings 11:1-8 Intermarriage with foreigners led to idolatry See also 1 Kings 16:31Royal marriages to foreigners brought disastrous consequences. Malachi 2:11Ezra 9:1-2,14; 10:1-2 Nehemiah 13:23-27 Intermarriage among returning exiles was a major problem facing Ezra and Nehemiah: Nehemiah 10:30See also Parents sought to avoid their children marrying foreigners Genesis 24:3-4Genesis 26:34-35; 27:46 Abraham seeks a bride for Isaac from among his own people. Genesis 28:1-2Esau's foreign wives are a source of grief to his parents: Judges 14:3Isaac forbids Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman Ruth 4:13Samson's parents encourage him to marry an Israelite. Marriage to foreigners may be permissible Ezra 10:3Boaz' marriage to Ruth the Moabitess was acceptable because Ruth embraced the Israelite faith. Restrictions were on the grounds of religion not of race. See also Foreign wives were put aside after the exile Ezra 10:10-171 Corinthians 7:39 Marriages between Christians and unbelievers 2 Corinthians 6:14Christians should not marry unbelievers 1 Corinthians 7:12-16Christians should not leave an unbelieving spouse Leviticus 18:6-18Restrictions on marriage to close relatives See also Sexual relations with close relatives is forbidden Leviticus 20:11-12,14,19-21Deuteronomy 22:30 Ezekiel 22:10-11 Matthew 14:3-4 Genesis 20:12 pp Mk 6:17-18 Examples of marriage to close relatives 2 Samuel 13:13Abraham was married to his half-sister Tamar suggests marriage with her half-brother, Amnon. Deuteronomy 25:5-10Levirate marriage Ruth 4:10The levirate law was instituted to preserve the dead father's name See also Genesis 38:8,11Levirate marriage refers to the legal obligation of a brother-in-law to produce heirs for his dead brother by marrying his widow. When there was no brother-in-law responsibility fell to a near relative, also described as a "kinsman-redeemer". Ruth 1:11-13; 3:9; 4:5Matthew 22:24-26 pp Mk 12:19-22 Genesis 38:9,14,26pp Lk 20:28-31 Ruth 4:6Unwillingness to fulfil the levirate law Exodus 22:16Regulations governing seduction and rape Deuteronomy 22:28-29Romans 7:2-3 Remarriage See also Widows are free to remarry Ruth 1:91 Corinthians 7:8-9 1 Timothy 5:14 Luke 16:18 Remarriage after divorce may be adultery See also pp Mt 19:9 1 Corinthians 7:10-11pp Mk 10:11-12 Deuteronomy 24:1-4Matthew 5:32 Remarriage after divorce permissible in certain circumstances 1 Corinthians 7:15,27-28See also 5661 brothers5674 daughters 5675 divorce 5703 inheritance 5732 polygamy 5743 widows 6240 rape 6241 seduction 7388 kinsman-redeemer 7530 foreigners |
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