Topical Bible: Marriage: The Jews: Often Contracted With Foreigners

◄ Marriage: The Jews: Often Contracted With Foreigners ►

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Marriage, as instituted by God, holds a significant place within the Jewish tradition, serving as a covenantal union between a man and a woman. However, throughout biblical history, the Israelites often entered into marriages with foreigners, which had profound implications for their spiritual and cultural identity.

Biblical Instances and Warnings

The practice of marrying foreigners is documented in several instances throughout the Old Testament. Despite clear instructions from God to the contrary, the Israelites frequently intermarried with surrounding nations. In Deuteronomy 7:3-4, God commands the Israelites, "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following Me to serve other gods." This warning highlights the spiritual danger of such unions, as they often led to idolatry and a turning away from the covenant with Yahweh.

Historical Examples

One of the most notable examples of intermarriage is King Solomon, whose many foreign wives led him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-2 states, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from the Hittites. They were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.'" Solomon's marriages to foreign women resulted in the introduction of idolatrous practices into Israel, ultimately leading to the division of the kingdom.

Ezra and Nehemiah also confronted the issue of intermarriage during the post-exilic period. Ezra 9:1-2 records the leaders' report to Ezra: "The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices... They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them." This led to a national repentance and a call to separate from foreign wives to preserve the sanctity of the Jewish community.

Cultural and Spiritual Implications

The intermarriage with foreigners often brought about a syncretism that diluted the distinctiveness of the Jewish faith. The influence of foreign wives frequently introduced pagan worship and practices, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh. This syncretism posed a significant threat to the covenantal relationship between God and His people, as it often led to a departure from the laws and commandments given to Israel.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the issue of intermarriage with foreigners underscores the importance of maintaining spiritual purity and fidelity to God's commandments. The repeated warnings and consequences associated with such marriages serve as a reminder of the need for the people of God to remain distinct and set apart for His purposes. The narrative of intermarriage in the Old Testament reflects the broader theme of faithfulness to God and the dangers of compromising with the surrounding culture.

In summary, while marriage with foreigners was a common occurrence among the Jews, it often led to spiritual compromise and a departure from the covenantal relationship with God. The biblical narrative consistently highlights the importance of maintaining a distinct identity as the people of God, faithful to His commandments and set apart for His purposes.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 11:1
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 13:23
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
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Library

In the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius C??sar and under the Pontificate ...
... at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. ... respected the religious scruples
of the Jews, Pilate set ... had deepest meaning, although, as so often in the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi in the fifteenth.htm

Book ii.
... under others; and most nations have been often subdued, and ... for no other people but
the Jews have avoided ... and knavishly; but to demand her in marriage of him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... at other times He spoke openly to the Jews, who in ... apostle speaks as a great mystery
in marriage, as referring ... with one wife only, they are often influenced by ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... the time of the prophet, and contracted with them ... and observed strict fidelity to
the marriage vow;* and ... writers maintain that the Magi often cloaked monstrous ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Latitudinarian Churchmanship.
... often admitted in theory, but not often in practice ... Dodwell wrote his 'Paraenesis
to Foreigners' in 1704. ... 337] Frederick William's rough and contracted mind was ...
/.../chapter v latitudinarian churchmanship.htm