Purported Authority Giving A Wife Power To Limit Her
Husband's Wives
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By what Scriptural
authority could a woman forbid her husband from taking additional wives while
she was still alive? I have found no such authority to date. And I would be
hesitant to give someone authority that Yahweh has not given that one. I look
forward to hearing from you.
>>
See my post of … on 1
Cor. 7:4
Shalom
I will address only the issues that I have not yet addressed in our
correspondence.
Shalom Again:
I feel you should have
some background on the story of Ruth, which is found in "Jewish Law of
Marriage and Divorce", pg. 29 (footnote) by, Mielzienr, copyright 1901:
'That polygamy though permitted by the law, was disapproved by the popular
morals and regarded as incompatible with domestic peace and happiness, is,
among others, evident from a remarkable passage in the Aramaic paraphrase of
the book of Ruth. In this paraphrase (Targum), the kinsman redeemer of
Elimelech being requested by Boaz to marry Ruth and redeem her deceased
husband's inheritance, answers the following "I can not marry her, for I
AM ALREADY MARRIED AND AM NOT ALLOWED TO MARRY ANOTHER WIFE IN ADDITION TO
HER". THIS WOULD MAR THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS OF MY HOUSE. BUT THOU MAYEST
MARRY HER AS YOU ART NOT YET MARRIED".'
This ancient document
gives us additional proof that WOMEN WERE ALLOWED THE RIGHT TO INCLUDE IN THEIR
MARRIAGE CONTRACTS THAT THEIR HUSBANDS WERE NOT ALLOWED ANOTHER WIFE IN
ADDITION TO HER during her lifetime! For you to DISALLOW women this right,
cannot be supported either SCRIPTURALLY (referring to the vow Laban required of
Jacob, 1 Cor. 7:4) OR HISTORICALLY, (from this Targum and other ancient
marriage contracts). Therefore, in order to not deal treacherously with your
wives, which YAH condemns, you must allow them this right as well.... to agree
or disagree to have a polygynous husband. I would like to see your scriptures
which support your position that the wife DOES NOT HAVE THIS RIGHT.
Where Has Yah Given A Wife Power To Restrict Her Husband
From Marrying An Additional Wife?
In my previous correspondence, which you should have received by now, I have addressed the various matters you have raised here above. I will now comment on this ancient document.
Marriage was instituted by Yah, and not by human beings. It is therefore Yah who indeed has the authority to determine the parameters of the marriage relationship, and not a paraphrase of Yah's word. If Yah thought it important to give a wife the right to restrict her husband marrying an additional woman he would have done so clearly in his word. He would not need a document external to his delivered word to so bring out this matter, a matter that is not consistent with other portions of Yah's word!
Do Not Add To Or Remove From Yah's Word
Does not Yah clearly warn in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 not to add to his word or remove therefrom? Would not someone relying on this ancient document purporting to paraphrase Yah's word, yet ADDS to it, be relying on a corruption of Yah's word, rather than Yah's authentic word?
It is Yah's authentic word that we must rely on in ascertaining the various rights he accords different people, not corruptions of Yah's word, such as documents adding to Yah's word, or omitting therefrom!
Does 1 Corinthians 7:5 Deny A Husband The Right To Have
Sex With Another Wife Of His?
(Why also is it in 1 Cor
7:5, a married couple may separate ONLY for fasting and prayer, by MUTUAL
consent, then comes the TWO come back together. Where is the husband given the
right, opportunity to separate to another wife? Once again, based on this text,
HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HIS WIFE'S CONSENT TO SEPARATE FROM HER TO ANOTHER WIFE!)
Numbers 30:13 reads,
"30:13Every
vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it,
or her husband may make it void."
A wife can therefore vow to Yah to afflict her soul, or fast, for a period of time. But for her vow to stand it must be ratified by her husband. A wife therefore needs her husband's participation in validating her vow.
Exodus 21:10 reads,
"21:10If
he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing,
and her marital rights."
A wife is therefore entitled to adequate sexual intercourse. Her husband must therefore avail himself to render to her adequate sex. If her husband desires to be away from her for a period of time whereby he would not render her adequate sex, he needs her acquiescence in this regard. Even if it is for an extended retreat for the purpose of prayer and fasting, he still needs her acquiescence, lest he finds himself failing to render to her adequate sex.
It should therefore be clear that the Law gives rights to both a husband and a wife. They are required to be together, rendering to one another adequate sex, and not being away from one another for an extended period of time unless by mutual agreement, subject, of course, to Yah's overriding will over their lives. For example, the husband might be required by Yah to be away from his wife for a period of time engaged in a war!
Why Is The Questioner Adding To 1 Corinthians 7:5?
Seeing that a wife's right to adequate sex from her husband is enshrined in the Law, the very portion that talks about a husband taking an additional wife, it cannot be said that the Law gives the wife veto power over her husband with respect to his taking another wife, or his having sex with another wife! It is therefore evident that your trying to construe 1 Corinthians 7:5 to say what it is does not is tantamount to ADDING to those words in 1 Corinthians 7:5!
1 Corinthians 7:5, taken in the context of the Law, does not say what you try to make it say. And if you believe 1 Corinthians 7:5 to be part of Yah's word, then you ought to be very careful about adding your own erroneous and unscriptural notions into it. Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 provides a clear enough warning in this regard!
Arrogant Questioner Glories In Self-Perceived Knowledge
Of The Scriptures
I have given you several
proofs of the Biblical and historic position, regarding the marriage rights of
women, and am awaiting yours. Knowing the scriptures as well as I do, in
addition to historic marriage and divorce law, you do not have even ONE
scripture to support your polygynous position lifestyle, if the wife does not
want her husband to participate in such, or if SHE chooses not to participate
in such a lifestyle.
It Is More Prudent To Be Humble
It would be more prudent for you not to be arrogant in that you consider yourself to be very knowledgeable of the scriptures, especially with respect to marriage and divorce law. For what you consider to be "knowledge", that a wife has the scriptural right to veto her husband marrying another wife, is seen to be mere human opinion at variance with the clear scriptural word, such as I have shown you in our correspondence!
Remember scriptures such as Luke 1:51-52,
"1:51He
has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered the proud in the imagination
of their heart.
1:52He
has put down princes from their thrones.
Has exalted the lowly."
And the Messiah's words in Luke 14:11,
"14:11For
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will
be exalted."
And Luke 16:15,
'16:15He
said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men,
but the Mighty One knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an
abomination in the sight of the Mighty One."'
You would be better off being humble and awaiting your exaltation, rather than exalting yourself prior to when Yah exalts you!
Are Your Wives Slaves Whose Only Duty Is To Raise
Children?
What ARE the rights of
your WIVES, anyway; if she has no say over the body of her husband? Or do you
not accept these writings of Paul? It seems as though your wives' lot is no
better than a slave with whom the master sleeps and raises children... Please
explain.
Awaiting your reply.
I have explained above the scriptural rights of a wife, whether she is the only wife of her husband, or one amongst others. As I said in previous correspondence, I try not to impose my own views devoid of scriptural support. I will therefore simply uphold what I have already said supported by the various scriptures I have given you.
Can A Newly Taken Wife Veto Her Husband From Having Sex
With An Existing Wife?
I have been wondering: you make such a big issue of a wife having veto power over her husband marrying another wife, or having sex with another wife. Yet you seem to accept the scriptural validity of polygyny. If a newly taken wife "vetoes" her husband from having sex with an existing wife, a "veto" the existing wife did not exercise over her husband with respect to the newly taken wife, is the husband to refrain from further sex with his existing wife or wives, seeing that he is subject to the "veto" power of his newly taken wife?
You see, this is a conclusion one derives from this loony theory of yours! Yet it is a conclusion that is contrary to Yah's clear command in Exodus 20:10,
"21:10If
he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing,
and her marital rights."
You see, Yah anticipated that there would be some wives who would try to control their husbands, bringing them under their (wives') subjection, and would be inclined to promote such fallacious and callous practices. Yah also knew that there would be some husbands who would not remain faithful to their responsibilities to their wives, and would think to promote the same fallacious and callous practices. Yet such a practice is what Yah condemns in Malachi 2 - husbands being unfaithful to the wives of their youth!
You see, the instigation to be so treacherous to one's existing wife, by abandoning her for a new wife whom one accords veto power over one, is condemned by Yah, just as much as if the husband acted without the instigation of his new wife. Yah therefore ensured that an existing wife's rights were protected, and thereby bound the husband to ensure that he continued to fulfil these rights for her, irrespective of whether his new wife sought to have veto powers over him. In other words, Yah's word DOES NOT RECOGNISE such veto powers over the husband!
The clear scriptural word is clear. A wife has no veto power over her husband with respect to restricting him from marrying another wife, or with respect to preventing him from having sex with another wife of his.
I pray and hope you will have the humility to submit yourself to Yah's word, and stop glorying in your own erroneous understanding of the scriptures.
Shalom
ISAAC
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