Post by Mark on Aug 25, 2009 3:33:19 GMT -8
Deu. 21 : 11 – 17
Catching a beautiful woman in battle was the common perk of warfare for the grunt troops of battle. Provided, he could do whatever he wanted without being killed in the process, to rape and pillage was part of the sport of warfare. This is contrasted in the Most High’s command toward treatment of women from the battlefield. They are commanded to be treated with dignity, given space and time to respond to the horrific circumstances they have endured, mourned the loss of their families.
Understanding that a woman left after the defeat and destruction of her nation was either starvation, prostitution or slavery, the invitation for the woman to be brought into the Israelite’s home was not such a bad deal. It is also important to understand the Hebrew word "eeshah" (which is translated "wife") does not necessarily imply any form of sexual relationship. It is a generic term referring to all women (as in Genesis 18:11: not only married women have menstrual cycles). In Genesis 24:5, it is the term used for Rebekah before the servant even knew who she would be (she certainly was presumed not to be already another man’s wife).
The acceptance of another woman into the home, Exodus 21:10 demands that if the man was already married, he cannot diminish the first wife’s provision of food, her clothing (speaking specifically of the veil that distinguishes her marriage status), and her conjugal rights. The implication is that if a man can handle a second wife, he really wasn’t much a husband to the first wife to begin with.
Paul will take it a step farther.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
(1Co 7:3-4)
The husband who offers his body to another woman is giving away that which is not his own to give.
It is surmised in the text that no man can love two women equally. One will be loved and the other "despised". The idea of "saw-nay" is that of contempt. It is not much different from what our Master declares about having two masters:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
(Mat 6:24)
This speaks volumes to so many troubles in marriages today: serving God (living and loving sacrificially) or pursuing one’s own selfish inclinations. The self-serving husband can replace this proper role in relationship with any number of competitors (other women, sporting events, laptop computers…). This warning is very clear in Paul’s admonition:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
(Eph 5:25-31)
Catching a beautiful woman in battle was the common perk of warfare for the grunt troops of battle. Provided, he could do whatever he wanted without being killed in the process, to rape and pillage was part of the sport of warfare. This is contrasted in the Most High’s command toward treatment of women from the battlefield. They are commanded to be treated with dignity, given space and time to respond to the horrific circumstances they have endured, mourned the loss of their families.
Understanding that a woman left after the defeat and destruction of her nation was either starvation, prostitution or slavery, the invitation for the woman to be brought into the Israelite’s home was not such a bad deal. It is also important to understand the Hebrew word "eeshah" (which is translated "wife") does not necessarily imply any form of sexual relationship. It is a generic term referring to all women (as in Genesis 18:11: not only married women have menstrual cycles). In Genesis 24:5, it is the term used for Rebekah before the servant even knew who she would be (she certainly was presumed not to be already another man’s wife).
The acceptance of another woman into the home, Exodus 21:10 demands that if the man was already married, he cannot diminish the first wife’s provision of food, her clothing (speaking specifically of the veil that distinguishes her marriage status), and her conjugal rights. The implication is that if a man can handle a second wife, he really wasn’t much a husband to the first wife to begin with.
Paul will take it a step farther.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
(1Co 7:3-4)
The husband who offers his body to another woman is giving away that which is not his own to give.
It is surmised in the text that no man can love two women equally. One will be loved and the other "despised". The idea of "saw-nay" is that of contempt. It is not much different from what our Master declares about having two masters:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
(Mat 6:24)
This speaks volumes to so many troubles in marriages today: serving God (living and loving sacrificially) or pursuing one’s own selfish inclinations. The self-serving husband can replace this proper role in relationship with any number of competitors (other women, sporting events, laptop computers…). This warning is very clear in Paul’s admonition:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
(Eph 5:25-31)
