In the cultural and religious context of ancient Israel, marriage was regarded as a sacred covenant, deeply rooted in the social and spiritual fabric of Jewish life. The institution of marriage was not only a personal commitment but also a communal and covenantal act that had implications for the broader society. One of the notable aspects of marriage in Jewish law was the provision for newly married men to be exempted from military service for a specific period.

This exemption is rooted in the Mosaic Law, as outlined in the Book of Deuteronomy. The law provided that a newly married man should not be sent to war or have any other public duties imposed upon him for one year. This period was intended to allow the husband to bring happiness to his wife and establish a strong foundation for their marriage. The relevant passage is found in Deuteronomy 24:5 : "If a man is newly married, he must not go out with the army or be charged with any duty. He is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married."

The rationale behind this exemption reflects the high value placed on marriage and family life within the Jewish tradition. By allowing the husband to remain with his wife, the law recognized the importance of nurturing the marital relationship and ensuring the stability of the family unit. This period of exemption was seen as essential for the couple to bond and for the husband to fulfill his role in providing emotional and practical support to his wife.

Furthermore, this provision underscores the compassionate and humane aspects of the Mosaic Law, which sought to balance the demands of communal responsibilities with the personal needs of individuals. It highlights the understanding that the strength of the nation was intrinsically linked to the strength of its families. By prioritizing the establishment of a stable and joyful marriage, the law aimed to promote social cohesion and continuity within the community.

In the broader biblical narrative, marriage is consistently portrayed as a divine institution, reflecting the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The exemption from military service for newlyweds can be seen as an extension of this theological understanding, emphasizing the sanctity and significance of the marital bond.

This provision also served as a practical measure to ensure that soldiers were not distracted by personal concerns while engaged in military campaigns. By allowing newly married men to remain at home, the law ensured that those who went to war were fully committed and focused on their duties, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and morale of the army.

In summary, the exemption from military service for newly married Jewish men highlights the profound respect for marriage within the Jewish legal and cultural framework. It reflects a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing the marital relationship and the foundational role of the family in the life of the community. Through this provision, the Mosaic Law sought to uphold the sanctity of marriage while balancing the needs of the individual with the responsibilities of the nation.Deuteronomy 20:7
And what man is there that has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of the Three Woe Trumpets.
... at the beginning of the trumpet, had not exempted from those ... Salome, the sister of
Herod, in marriage; but being ... the last after the return of the Jews; and, if ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the three woe trumpets.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... who paid for their poorer brethren, were exempted from the ... For when the Jews,' by
which here, as in so ... the children of Joseph by a former marriage): How could ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

Footnotes
... him, that they might be put to press immediately on his ... the one in which after sermon,
the marriage ceremony was ... day and night to prevent any one's going in or ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... who are commonly called clergymen, be entirely exempted from all ... as if by the compact
of marriage they were ... kept this festival with the Jews, will henceforth ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... whenever, neglecting the purity of his holy marriage, we defile ... meet the cavils by
which the Jews thought they ... some think that the only oaths exempted from the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... as Peter saith, Fleshly lusts, they war against the ... Adam going into the garden under
these conditions and ... but the command was not so immediately delivered to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Strait Gate;
... GREAT DIFFICULTY OF GOING TO HEAVEN: ... that were ready went in with him to the marriage,
and the ... or passages of the Old Testament, with which the Jews were well ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm

Saved by Grace;
... Christ's righteousness, yet is not faith exempted from having ... but they lust against
us, and war against us ... neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/saved by grace.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... them as unconcerned, while they are going down the ... companion of imputed righteousness,
and immediately follows it ... again, The lusts thereof do 'war against the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... And being (we are, as I perceive) going some considerable way together, I ... she, with
her children, betook themselves to a pilgrim's life), after her husband was ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

What does the Bible say about the concept of a common law marriage? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about gay marriage / same sex marriage? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Marriage (All) | GotQuestions.org

Marriage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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