Don't Marry Dad's Former Wife
Deut 23:1
It always amazes me how a statement in the Torah that seems at first not to be of interest or applicable in any way to today can take 10 pages in my little notebook and trigger such fascinating discussion that moves from sexual conduct to Shakespeare and to better understanding of historical significance of the mitzvot.
This law not to marry a former wife of your father is much more than it seems on the surface. (as much of Torah is and probably why we re-read it every year) Note this is not talking of just your mother since there was a lot of marriage options open to men in Biblical times.
And this is one of those laws that is mentioned in several places in Torah so it was very significant and worth exploration.
This law is also stated a bit differently in Lev 18:6-8 where it clearly points out that the 'mother's nakedness belongs to the father' and to 'uncover nakedness' implies sexual relationship. The issue points to the sense of shame and humiliation to the father by taking to wife a former wife of your father and thus breaking the commandment to honor your father.
This is also mentioned in Ezekial when he deliniates the crimes of mankind. And in the story of Noah when his son, Ham, 'saw his father's nakedness' and tells his brothers. And again in Genesis when Ruven lies with Jacob's concubine and later is admonished when his father is dying. It is also an issue relating to the story of King David and Solomon becoming the next king. His other son,Absolom, asks to marry one of David's concubines and is later killed when Solomon finds out about this crime. This also relates to this law. The acquisition of the King's women is symbolic of the power with being the king.
Shakespeare used this theme in both Macbeth and Hamlet.
As in many of the laws of Torah the prohibitions related to practices of the other people in the region, there was a common practice of 'marriage with the father's former wives' in the old Syrian culture. This was later prohibited in the Koran.
The law's central focus is to honor the father in all ways:
Don't sit in his place - Don't contradict him in public - Don't push him aside
Take care of your father's needs in all ways both physical and psychological.
It always amazes me how a statement in the Torah that seems at first not to be of interest or applicable in any way to today can take 10 pages in my little notebook and trigger such fascinating discussion that moves from sexual conduct to Shakespeare and to better understanding of historical significance of the mitzvot.
This law not to marry a former wife of your father is much more than it seems on the surface. (as much of Torah is and probably why we re-read it every year) Note this is not talking of just your mother since there was a lot of marriage options open to men in Biblical times.
And this is one of those laws that is mentioned in several places in Torah so it was very significant and worth exploration.
This law is also stated a bit differently in Lev 18:6-8 where it clearly points out that the 'mother's nakedness belongs to the father' and to 'uncover nakedness' implies sexual relationship. The issue points to the sense of shame and humiliation to the father by taking to wife a former wife of your father and thus breaking the commandment to honor your father.
This is also mentioned in Ezekial when he deliniates the crimes of mankind. And in the story of Noah when his son, Ham, 'saw his father's nakedness' and tells his brothers. And again in Genesis when Ruven lies with Jacob's concubine and later is admonished when his father is dying. It is also an issue relating to the story of King David and Solomon becoming the next king. His other son,Absolom, asks to marry one of David's concubines and is later killed when Solomon finds out about this crime. This also relates to this law. The acquisition of the King's women is symbolic of the power with being the king.
Shakespeare used this theme in both Macbeth and Hamlet.
As in many of the laws of Torah the prohibitions related to practices of the other people in the region, there was a common practice of 'marriage with the father's former wives' in the old Syrian culture. This was later prohibited in the Koran.
The law's central focus is to honor the father in all ways:
Don't sit in his place - Don't contradict him in public - Don't push him aside
Take care of your father's needs in all ways both physical and psychological.
posted by Chavarah @ 6:03 PM
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