Divorce in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is Divorce?
DIVORCE'
, the dissolution of the marriage relation. This was permitted by the law of Moses because already existent, but so regulated as to mitigate its injustice and cruelty to the wife, Deut 24:1-4, and in certain cases forbidden, Deut 22:19, 1 Chr 2:29. Although divorce was common in the later days of the Hebrew nation, Mal 2:16, and men put away their wives for trivial causes, Matt 19:3 -- and many of the Jewish doctors contended that this was the spirit of the Law -- there is no distinct case of divorce mentioned in the O.T. Our Saviour was questioned upon this matter, but he defeated the purpose of his inquisitors to entangle him in his talk, and took the opportunity to rebuke the lax morals of the day and set forth adultery as the only proper ground of divorce. Matt 5:32; 1 Kgs 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18. According to Jewish customs, the husband was required to give his wife a writing or bill of divorcement, in which was set forth the date, place, and cause of her repudiation, and a permission was given by it to marry whom she pleased. It was provided, however, that she might be restored to the relation at any future time if she did not meanwhile marry any other man. The woman also seems to have had power -- at least in a later period of the Jewish state -- to put away her husband -- i.e. without a formal divorce to forsake him. Mark 10:12.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'divorce' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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