Topical Bible: Marriage: Contracted in Patriarchal Age With Near Relations

◄ Marriage: Contracted in Patriarchal Age With Near Relations ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the patriarchal age, as recorded in the Bible, marriage often occurred between near relations. This practice, while later restricted by Mosaic Law, was common among the early patriarchs and is documented in several key biblical narratives.

Biblical Examples:

1. Abraham and Sarah: Abraham, the father of the Hebrew nation, married his half-sister Sarah. Genesis 20:12 records Abraham's words to Abimelech: "Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife." This union, though later prohibited under Mosaic Law, was not uncommon in the patriarchal period.

2. Isaac and Rebekah: Isaac, the son of Abraham, married Rebekah, who was his first cousin once removed. Genesis 24:15 describes Rebekah as "the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor." This marriage was arranged by Abraham's servant, emphasizing the importance of familial ties in marriage arrangements during this era.

3. Jacob and Leah/Rachel: Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, married his cousins Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, his mother's brother. Genesis 29:10 states, "As soon as Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep." These marriages further illustrate the acceptance of unions within close kinship circles.

4. Esau and Mahalath: Esau, Jacob's brother, took Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, as a wife. Genesis 28:9 notes, "So Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had." This marriage reflects the continued practice of intermarriage among close relatives.

Cultural and Theological Context:

In the patriarchal age, marriage within the family was often pursued to preserve family wealth, maintain tribal alliances, and ensure the purity of the lineage. The absence of explicit prohibitions against such unions in the early biblical narrative suggests a cultural acceptance of these practices. It was not until the giving of the Law to Moses that specific restrictions were placed on marriages between close relatives (Leviticus 18:6-18).

From a theological perspective, these marriages were instrumental in the unfolding of God's covenantal promises. The unions of the patriarchs were pivotal in the establishment of the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham regarding his descendants.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

While modern readers may view these practices through a different ethical lens, it is essential to understand them within their historical and cultural context. The patriarchal age was a formative period in biblical history, and the marriages contracted during this time played a crucial role in the development of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 20:12
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 24:24
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bore to Nahor.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 28:2
Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take you a wife from there of the daughers of Laban your mother's brother.
Torrey's Topical Textbook