New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-15
THE HEBREW COMMONWEALTH.
An Explanatory Letter from ". NJ. Noah.

PROFESSOR wISEs--.THE INSTITUTION OF MAR
RAGE BEFORE AND AFTER GIVING or THE Law
RIGHTS WOMEN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune; Continued
Seduction, in the early times, was not deemed
the moral crime it now is If man seduced an IN
berothed maid by attery and promises OF mar
riagc he was obliged 10 make satisfaction by paying
her an equivalent in money equal TO dowry, TO en-
able her TO marry another person. This sum was
not assessed by jury as it now Is for breach OF
the marriage promise but fixed at fifty shekels
of silver: bat in later periods the betrayer was COM
PEELED TO pay heavier penalty, this sum not being
considered equivalent for the great wrong done TO
the female. If violence was used the man always
was compelled 10 marry the girl if she and her pa
rents consented he had no liberty 70 refuse even
if she was lame. or blind. or leprous. or had any
blemish upon her; he was not only compelled 10
marry her. but live with her, his case giving him
in no event the usual privilege OF a divorce. inc
law of Moses Deut. 23-27 having expressly de-
clarcd that no daughter of Israel should be harloi
no house of i'll fame permitted 10 exist-not only
10 prevent adultery and base practices but quarrel!
ing and bloodshed. which frequently occur IN houses
where several contend for the possession OF the
same woman, for the Scripture says, Jeremiah .
IL They assembled by troops in the harlots
fear iha, men might be induced 10 marry harots !;
nor were they permitted TO pass OFT such as their
wives-so delicately attached were the Jews 10 the
sanctity OF the marriage rites.
All kind of horrd mixtures and beastly prac-
tees were capital offences. and punished Win
DEATH Violating a maiden was punished by deaih'
the evidence, however, was required 10 be direct
and positive, from apprehension that force was
not used and if the maiden was betrothed, which
was equivalent to beins married and made no re-
sisIapce both were stoned 10 death. Ii the daush-
Ter of Prizes; that was belrothed dishonored her
self she was deemed guilty OF committing double
crime-frst in disgracing herself and bringing a
stain upon the reputation of her father, the punish
inent was burning, the severest penalty among the
Jews. because from her rank and station greater
virtue was expected. Adultery was always pun
ished with death among the Hebrews by stranellng
II the parties caught frdgidnte def1cto there
was no escape. the power OF pardon was not lett TO
the husband If It is asked whether adueress
could marry the partner OF her crime. alter the death
of her husband, supposing the crime TO nave been
known we should think that the parties might
marry as the man in measure, retrieved her repu-
tation This the OF David and Baihsheba.
who is frequently called N Scripture his vile and
Adoniiah. who claimed the succession before Solo
mon never charged him with having been lie
Ultimate
There existed very singular ceremony, OF
irving a woman suspected OF adultery. Numbers
-
man had reason TO believe that his wife was TOO IN
innate with another man, he was compelled before
two witnesses to warn her against any farther IN
tercourse with the suspected person and II he had
no witnesses 10 this admoniton II shielded her from
capital punishment. If however she persisted IN
her intrigue. the husband taking the witnesses OF
his prcmoniton before magistrate, accused her In
the following words
Having jealousy of this my wife, admonished her
not 10 keep company with such person. with whom she
afterwards in secret and these are the witnesses Of
IT, She says she is innocent but desire that the oiter
waters may be given her. thai the truth may be tried
She was then handed over 10 the great Sanhe-
drim al Jerusalem, who alone had the authority TO
try tho cause The Grand Council having the
woman before them, and reading 10 her the bill OF
indictment. endeavorcd to coax her 10 confess IN the
following words, which we find in the Talmud
Dear daughter perhaps thou vast overtaken by drink
ing too rnucn wine in gay humor, Or Carried
away by the heat of youth by the example OF evil
neishbors come confess truth, for the sake OF His
great name which is described III The most sacred cere'
nony and do not let it be blotted out by water
If she plead guilty, saying am defled, she was
only REQUIRED 10 tear her marriage conirac, 10 pie
Ces and go where she pleased. tor such an adult
teress was not 10 be put 10 death,-she was merely
turned Oft in disgrace, without dowry or main
,cnancc But If the wife denied the charge, arow-
ing her willingness TO drink the bitter waters, they
brought her through the East gates OF The Temple,
which are before the door OF the gate OF -NcdH0r,
and there she was worried and tortured TO compel
her 10 confess But if she persisted IN her lnno-
cence the ceremony OF trial commenced, by com
polling her TO sit down IN front oil The gate, 10 De
put on her trial. Before this trial commenced the
husband was compelled 10 bring an oblation Tor her,
in order to suppcate the Almighty that He would
be pleased to make her innocence manifest II wrong
fully suspected; if otherwise, to punish her quit
This obla,ion consisted OF the tenth part OF an
ephah of barley meal,-a poor Offering suitable 10
her sad condition. No oil, no irankincense were
allowed to be offered with II, because these were
emblems of 10y, unsuted 10 the occasion; the Cd
lation was called in the law an offering OF memo
rial bringing iniouity TO remembrance. The Priest
on duty at that time rent her clothes, dlsheveied
her hair, took her ring and other ornaments IRON
her, and in the presence OF men and women com
menced the ceremony. The water she was 10
drink was called holy water, because II was taken
out Of the LAYER of the Court,-the quantity was
log and half about three egg shells full. III which
he threw sor.e dust which was the serpent iood
The woman placed at the door of the Tabernacle
with her head uncovered the Priest put the oner
ing of jealousy into her hand, while IN the other
hand he held the bitter water IN vessel. Inc
water was called bitter, in consequence OF the effects
supposed 10 be had on the guilty, II was supposed
TO have been compounded of some drug, worm
wood or gall. After solemn edmonton 10 con-
fess il she refused, then the most direiul results
were predicted if guilty from drinking the waters
CURSES the IQOSl OItlel, tliS A4-O'' ~
pallipg II, after all these admonitons, she con,
essed her guthe water was poured out, butfguilty,
and still denying her guilt, she drinks the bitter
waters the most dreadful effects iollowed,-ner
veins sweed, her face grew livid her eyes started
our OF her head, and she died, or she died as OF
very slow poison, some time alter drinking II in
nocent, however IL Is SAID her face grew animated,
her ewes sparkled with unusua. lustre, and she
carried home in triumph. This ceremony vas de-
signed protect coniugal faith and innocence, but
il has ever appeared 10 unjust aud irrational.
1t permitted the guilty pro conteSso 10 escape while
it degraded and endangered the lite OF The limo
cent. The law, however, towards the end OF the
second temple, was repealed upon the avowed
ground that the number OF adulterers was SO great,
that the bitter waters had lost theic influence. and
in this the prophecy OF Hosea was accomplished.
(+-l4l.
Although the protection due the husband required
the passage of the foregoing laws in the early hsto-
~ OF the world, the women were not deprived OF
their rights and the law OF divorce was made io.
their advantage in order that they might not be eX-
posed 10 the tckleness and cruelty OF the husband,