“Suppose a man marries a woman and consummates the marriage but later finds her displeasing, because he has found her offensive in some respect. He writes her a divorce document, gives it to her and sends her away from his house. She leaves his house, goes and becomes another man’s wife; but the second husband dislikes her and writes her a get, gives it to her and sends her away from his house; or the second husband whom she married dies. In such a case her first husband, who sent her away, may not take her again as his wife, because she is now defiled. It would be detestable to Adonai, and you are not to bring about sin in the land Adonai your God is giving you as your inheritance.”-Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Let’s get some clarity on what exactly we’re dealing with in the first few verses of Deuteronomy 24 concerning remarriage.
Basically, what we’re being told is if a man divorces his wife and the now divorced woman gets remarried to another man but afterwards her second husband dies OR he too decides to divorce this woman, the woman is forbidden from going back and remarrying her first original husband.
About 800 years earlier, the RAMBAM (aka Maimonides) had some interesting thoughts to share about this commandment.
In establishing this law, he believed the Lord was addressing a “wife swapping” scheme that was rampant at the time.
How it worked is that a man would marry a girl, divorce her, then marry another girl for only a short time and then go back and remarry his first wife and literally repeat the process.
The sneaky idea behind all of this was that by legally marrying, divorcing and marrying again over and over and over, a man could have sex with many different women and he wouldn’t be breaking any of the laws of adultery because technically he was married to each woman he was having sex with.
Ain’t it amazing the lengths we’ll go to in trying to find some nice and convenient loophole to meet our selfish desires?
How do you think the Lord feels about all this deviousness?
He makes it clear exactly how He feels about it in His Word.
“For I hate divorce,” says ADONAI the God of Isra’el, “and him who covers his clothing with violence,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and don’t break faith.”-Malachi 2:16
Finally, note the REAL REASON for the husband not being allowed to remarry an ex-wife who has also remarried and divorced.
Verse 4 tells us it is because she is now defiled.
If a first husband remarries an ex-wife who also remarried and divorced, this would cause the very land of Israel to be defiled itself.
And God cannot allow such a thing to happen on His sanctified property.
Did God really divorce Israel in Jeremiah? If so, can He ever go back to her? Would that not be breaking His own law? Your thoughts…
If the wife is still alive, I see why not?
Check out this verse:
“To those who are married I have a command, and it is not from me but from the Lord: a woman is not to separate herself from her husband 11 But if she does separate herself, she is to remain single or be reconciled with her husband. Also, a husband is not to leave his wife.”
These verses are dealing with a case that a divorce happened and then afterwards the woman REMARRIED another man. Apparently, in that case, things are different.
God also said a man was not to divorce his wife unless she committed adultery.And if he did so any way any sexual sin she did the husband would be charged with not the wife . And Jesus said those free of sin be the first to pick up the stone. And there was none sin free. And also take into account if God isn’t there to bless a marriage then it’s not a marriage. And all whom are responsible for tearing a union apart that God put together there life will be required of them .
Don’t forget the man whom tore down his barn to build a bigger barn. He went to throw himself a big party and God required his life. And don’t forget God also sees the devious schemes of those whom purposely marry to get there hands on God’s children just to defile it. For the reason they hate they purposely spill their seed. And don’t forget those whom marry to wipe out God’s seed by mixing their seed with God’s because they hated God. I’m pretty sure that’s what building tower of babel was building family without God . By bringing those in to purposely put stumbling blocks (unholy teachings and temptations through their sourceries etc.) While the farmer slept the devil came in and planted his seed but God said wait till harvest for pulling the weed will disturb the wheat. Harvest Gods heavenly angels place wheat into the barn and bundle the weed for the fire. God marries the widow the pharisees and scribes Rob her house. God will let them know how much he loves her for they will be at her feet. Don’t forget the weed trying to look like the wheat.and a little child shall lead them
How might this apply to the common modern practice of a wife who divorces her husband?
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?-1 Corinthians 7:12-16