Eve Was Adam's Wife Before Their First Sexual Union
Genesis 2:18-25 reads,
2:18
Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." 2:19Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 2:20The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him. 2:21Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 2:22He made the rib, which Yahweh God had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man. 2:23The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 2:24Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. 2:25They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.It should be noted that shortly after the woman's creation and her presentation to the man she is already called "his wife". They are both, at this stage shortly after her creation and presentation to the man, naked. There is no evidence that they have already become enjoined or "one flesh" through sexual union.
A Woman Becomes A Man's Wife Once Given To Him As His
It therefore appears that a woman becomes a man's, becomes his wife, once Yahweh has presented her to him as his. They do not have to have become "one flesh" through sexual union before she becomes his. Presentation by a woman to a man as his is sufficient for her to become his wife!
Pharaoh Unwittingly Took Another Man's Wife As His Own
Genesis 12:10-20 reads,
12:10
There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was sore in the land. 12:11It happened, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look on. 12:12It will happen, when the Egyptians will see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. 12:13Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you."12:14
It happened that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 12:15The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 12:16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels. 12:17Yahweh plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 12:18Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 12:19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way."12:20
Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.Pharaoh unwittingly took Sarai to be his wife, for he thought that she was not someone's wife.
Yahweh Opposes A Man Taking As His Own The Wife Of Another Man
Yahweh's action in plaguing Pharaoh and his house, as seen in 12:17, shows that he is against a person taking another man's wife, even when the person does so unwittingly! A man should therefore not take as his wife a woman who is already someone else's wife, for such conduct is contrary to Yahweh's laid down order for humans.
A Man Who Has Taken Another Man's Wife As His Own Should Restore Her To Her Rightful Husband
It should be noted from Pharaoh's conduct that if a man takes someone else's wife as his own he must restore her to her rightful husband, irrespective of whether or not he was aware that she was already someone's wife at the time that he took her as his own. For a woman who is already wife to a particular man should not be taken as wife by another man.
Ascertain A Woman's Betrothal Status Prior To Taking Her As Your Wife
Pharaoh sinned against Yahweh unwittingly in taking Sarai as his wife while she was already another man's wife. To avoid committing the same sin that Pharaoh committed, of unwittingly taking as one's wife another man's wife, one should first ascertain from Yahweh the status of any woman one considers to take as his wife. For by so ascertaining one will become aware of her true status and will therefore avoid sinning unwittingly in taking as one's wife a woman who is already someone else's wife.
Yahweh Punishes Those Who Sin Against Him, Whether They Do So Wittingly Or Unwittingly
It should also be noted that Yahweh punishes those who violate his word, whether wittingly or unwittingly. It is therefore imperative that a man considering taking a woman as his wife should first ascertain her status, whether or not she is already another man's wife, before committing himself to take her as his. For those who violate Yahweh's word in taking as their own wives women who are already wives to others are indeed punished by Yahweh.
Sarai Gave Her Maid As Wife To Her Husband
Genesis 16:1-5 reads,
16:1
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 16:2Sarai said to Abram," See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her." Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 16:3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 16:4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 16:5Sarai said to Abram, "This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you."A Female Slave Owner Has Capacity To Give Her As Wife To A Man
It should be noted that a mistress or master with a handmaid or slave woman under her or his authority has capacity to give her to a man to be that man's wife. For this is what Sarai, a mistress, did with Hagar, her handmaid. It therefore appears that a handmaid or slave woman has no authority to become wife to a man without the approval of her master or mistress.
Lot Had Sons-In-Law Though His Daughters Were Still Virgins
Genesis 19:12-17 reads,
19:12
The men said to Lot, "Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 19:13for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is grown great before Yahweh. Yahweh has sent us to destroy it."19:14
Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, "Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city."But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 19:15When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city." 19:16But he lingered; and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 19:17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, "Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, neither stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed!"
Lot's Daughters Were Wives Prior To The Time Appointed For Their Marriages
It should be noted that the men who were pledged to marry Lot's daughters are called "his sons-in-law". In other words, Lot's daughters were already wives to these men, even though their marriages to these men had yet to take place.
It should indeed be noticed that Lot's daughters' marriages had yet to take place, for they were still virgins, as can be seen from Genesis 19:7-8, which reads,
19:7
He said, "Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly. 19:8See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and do you to them as is good in your eyes. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof."A Woman Becomes A Man's Wife From The Moment Of Her Betrothal
It should therefore be clear that once a woman has been pledged to be married by a man she becomes, from the time of that pledge, that man's wife. She might continue to live under her father's authority until the time for her marriage, but she is already that man's wife. And that man becomes her father's son-in-law from the time of that pledge, already being her husband.
Abimelech Took Another Man's Wife As His Own
Genesis 20 reads,
20:1
Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar. 20:2Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man’s wife."Abimelech Unwittingly Took Another Man's Wife As His Own
20:4
Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 20:5Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."20:6
God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 20:7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.Abimelech Acknowledged His Great Sin In Unwittingly Taking Another Man's Wife As His Own
20:8
Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!" 20:10Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?"20:11
Abraham said, "Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ 20:12Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 20:13It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."’"Abimelech Restored Sarah To Her Rightful Husband And Paid Reparations For His Unwitting Sin
20:14
Abimelech took sheep and oxen, men-servants and women-servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife to him. 20:15Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you." 20:16To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated."Yahweh Plagued The Health Of Abimelech's Household
20:17
Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bore children. 20:18For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.Yahweh Opposes The Taking Of Another Man's Wife As One's Own
It should again be clear that Yahweh is against one man taking as his wife a woman who is already the wife of another man! And Yahweh punishes those who take men's wives as their own. For when Abimelech took Sarah as his wife, yet Sarah was Abraham's wife, Yahweh made Abimelech impotent and closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech!
It Seems That Yahweh Temporarily Made Abimelech Impotent
In 20:6 Yahweh says that he is the one who withheld Abimelech from compounding on his sin against Yahweh. And the manner he withheld Abimelech, as implied from 20:17, was by making Abimelech impotent!
True Repentance Entails A Man Restoring Another Man's Wife That He Has To Her Rightful Husband
It should be clear that it is sin against Yahweh for a man to take as his wife a woman who is already another man's wife, even when he does so unwittingly! In repentance the man should restore the woman back to her rightful husband. It is not sufficient to just acknowledge the unwitting sin and continue living with the woman as his wife even though she is rightfully another man's wife. True repentance entails both acknowledgement of the unwitting sin and restoration of the woman back to her rightful husband.
It Is Sin To Betroth To Yourself Another Man's Wife
It should also be noted that Abimelech had yet to sexually lie with Sarah. Nevertheless, by betrothing Sarah to himself, by taking Sarah as his wife, he had already sinned against Yahweh! It is therefore sin for a man to take as his wife a woman who is already another man's wife, irrespective of whether or not he has sexually lain with the woman he has just taken as his wife!
It Is Appropriate To Pay A Rightful Husband Reparations For Having Taken His Wife As Your Own
20:16 shows that Abimelech paid Abraham a thousand pieces of silver, as reparation for his unwitting sin against Abraham. For he had unwittingly taken Sarah as his wife yet Sarah was already Abraham's wife. It therefore appears in order for a man who sins against another by taking the other's wife as his own to pay the other some reparation property, as well as restore the other man's wife to the other.
The Penalty For Taking Another Man's Wife Is Death
20:7 notes that the penalty for taking another man's wife is death! For this is what Yahweh decreed upon Abimelech's household if Abimelech chose not to repent of his unwitting sin!
Either Parent Can Take A Wife For His Son
Genesis 21:19-21 reads,
21:19
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. 21:20God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer. 21:21He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.It should be noted that a parent, either father or mother, can indeed take a wife for his son.
A Woman Is Not To Be Forced To Become Wife To A Particular Man
Genesis 24 reads,
24:1
Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh. 24:3I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 24:4But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."24:5
The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?"24:6
Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. 24:7Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 24:8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again."Yahweh Had Appointed A Particular Woman To Be Isaac's Wife
24:9
The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 24:10The servant took ten camels, of his master’s camels, and departed, having all goodly things of his master’s in his hand. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 24:11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 24:12He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 24:13Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 24:14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink.’ She will say, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ Let the same be she who you have appointed for your servant Isaac. Thereby will I know that you have shown kindness to my master."Rebekah Was A Virgin At The Time Abraham's Servant Met Her
24:15
It happened, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 24:16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 24:17The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."24:18
She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. 24:19When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking." 24:20She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.24:21
The man looked steadfastly at her, holding his peace, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. 24:22It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 24:23and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?"24:24
She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." 24:25She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."24:26
The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. 24:27He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master’s relatives."24:28
The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. 24:29Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. 24:30It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 24:31He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."24:32
The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 24:33Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message."He said, "Speak on."
24:34
He said, "I am Abraham’s servant. 24:35Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and donkeys. 24:36Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 24:37My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 24:38but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ 24:39I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ 24:40He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father’s house. 24:41Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ 24:42I came this day to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go. 24:43Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, Give me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink. 24:44She will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels." Let the same be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ 24:45Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 24:46She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 24:47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. 24:48I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. 24:49Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me. That I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."Bethuel And Laban Acknowledged Yahweh's Hand In Appointing Rebekah As Isaac's Wife
24:50
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. 24:51Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken."24:52
It happened that when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. 24:53The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. 24:54They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."24:55
Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."24:56
He said to them, "Don’t hinder me, seeing Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."Rebekah's Family Members Gave Her The Option Of Accepting Yahweh's Appointed Will For Her Life
24:57
They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." 24:58They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?"She said, "I will go."
24:59
They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 24:60They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."24:61
Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 24:62Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi. For he lived in the land of the South. 24:63Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. 24:64Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. 24:65She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?"The servant said, "It is my master."
Rebekah Finally Met Isaac After Leaving Her Family's Land
She took her veil, and covered herself. 24:66The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 24:67Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
A Person Can Authorise Another Person To Act With The Capacity That He Possesses
24:3-4 shows that a father can authorise another person to act with the capacity that he possesses, the capacity of taking a wife for his son. For Abraham authorised his servant to act on his behalf with this capacity.
A Person Appointed By Yahweh To Act In A Given Manner Is Not Forced To So Act
24:5-8 shows that both Abraham and his servant clearly had in mind that Yahweh had appointed a particular woman to be Isaac's wife. Nevertheless, they both recognised that just because Yahweh had appointed her to be Isaac's wife did not automatically mean that she would agree to become Isaac's wife. For they recognised her authority in accepting or rejecting Yahweh's will for her life.
A Woman Has Authority To Accept Or Reject A Marriage Proposal To Her
It should therefore be evident that a woman, as is the case with men, has authority to accept or reject Yahweh's will for her life. It should also be evident that a woman has authority to accept or reject any proposal to her to be wife to a particular man. And if she rejects a proposal to become wife to a particular man then she indeed does not become that man's wife, even when Yahweh has appointed her to be wife to that man!
Abraham's words in 24:8 also bring out another important matter. Abraham's servant was authorised to take a wife. Nevertheless, if the appointed woman refused to become wife as she was appointed Abraham's servant was then to be free of his obligation to take the appointed woman as wife. By this principle it appears that if Yahweh has authorised a particular man to take as his wife a particular woman, and the woman refuses to become wife to that man, then Yahweh no longer obliges that man to take that woman as his wife. For he showed Yahweh his willingness to take her as his wife, but she refused.
Yahweh Does Not Force Those He Has Appointed To Become Husband And Wife To So Become
It therefore appears that for a man and a woman to be husband and wife they must each agree to become husband and wife. If one or both of them do not agree to become husband and wife, even when Yahweh had appointed them to become husband and wife, they do not become husband and wife.
24:14 reiterates Abraham's servant's clear understanding that Yahweh had appointed a particular woman to be Isaac's wife.
Is It The Case That Women Yahweh Appoints To Be Wives To Some Men Must Be Virgins?
Why does 24:16 mention that the young lady was a virgin? Is it that it is not always the case that a woman whom Yahweh appoints for a man is a virgin? Or is very beautiful to look at? And therefore, to stress that this particular woman whom Yahweh had appointed for Isaac was indeed outstanding, being both very beautiful to look at and also a virgin?
Seek As Your Wife Only A Woman Yahweh Has Appointed To Be Your Wife
24:44 reiterates that Abraham's servant clearly understood that Yahweh had appointed a particular woman for Isaac. It is therefore the case that Yahweh appoints particular women to be wives to particular men.
Following the example of Abraham and his servant it seems to me that men should seek out those women for wives whom Yahweh has appointed for them. They should not seek for wives those whom Yahweh has not appointed for them, but should confine themselves to those Yahweh has appointed for them. And by truly seeking out those whom Yahweh has appointed for them, doing so in faith, Yahweh will indeed lead them to these women.
Laban and Bethuel's words in 24:50-51 should be noted. They acknowledged that because Yahweh had appointed Rebekah to be Isaac's wife they no longer had authority in the matter of giving her in marriage to Isaac. Their role was simply to abide by Yahweh's will in the matter, and that meant releasing Rebekah for Yahweh's appointed role for her.
It therefore appears that when Yahweh has appointed a particular woman as wife to a particular man that woman's father ceases to have authority with respect to giving her as wife to any man. For Yahweh, who has authority over all, has already acted to give her as wife to a particular man. Therefore, when Yahweh appoints a woman as wife to a man the woman's father should not interfere with Yahweh's will but should simply act to facilitate Yahweh's will.
Yahweh Does Not Force A Woman He Has Appointed As Someone's Wife To Abide By His Will
It should be noted from 24:57-58 that the woman Yahweh has appointed as wife to a particular man has say in the matter of whether or not she agrees to be wife to that man. In other words, even though Yahweh has appointed her as wife to a man, Yahweh does not force her to abide by his will. She can abide by Yahweh's will or not. A woman should therefore be asked whether she agrees to become wife to a particular man even when those with capacity to give her as wife to that man have already done so.
Submit To Yahweh's Will With Respect To His Chosen Husband Or Wife For You
It should also be noted that when Rebekah agreed to become Isaac's wife she had not by then laid eyes on Isaac. She, in faith, acknowledged Yahweh's hand in the matter and agreed to abide by Yahweh's will. It is therefore not necessary for a man and a woman to have met prior to agreeing to become husband and wife. The important thing is to note Yahweh's hand in bringing them together as husband and wife, and once this has been noted and acknowledged they should, in faith, submit to Yahweh's will.
A Man Incurs Guilt By Sexually Lying With Another Man's Wife, Even When Done Unwittingly
Genesis 26:6-11 reads,
26:6
Isaac lived in Gerar. 26:7The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "My wife," lest, he thought, the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she was beautiful to look on. 26:8It happened, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife. 26:9Abimelech called Isaac, and said, "Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’"Isaac said to him, "Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’"
26:10
Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!"26:11
Abimelech charged all the people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death."It should be noted that Abimelech clearly understood that a person who sexually lies with another man's wife, even one who does so unwittingly, commits sin against Yahweh and brings guilt on his household. It is therefore imperative that before one takes a woman as his wife, or sexually lies with her, he should clearly ascertain that the woman indeed is not wife to another man. For if he takes another man's wife as his own, or sexually lies with another man's wife, even unwittingly, he sins against Yahweh and brings guilt on his household.
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