New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-14

besides Sarah had HaCar. and Jacob had four wives
the. daughters OF Laban and their maids. The Jews
conended in those times that II was legal and that
n man might have as many wives as he pleased
though four was the limited number. provided he
could maintain them all. Before and after the Del
uye they USUALLY had two wives 10 one they gave
dram which prevented conception and preserved
beauty; she was always richly atred, mistress
would be al this day 1t is certain that there was
no law against polygamy. although the original in
sti,pt;on of Marriage directed Man TO cleave unto
his wife Job had but one wife; Isaac only bad
Rebekah Jacobs children only had each one wife
After the PRONUNCIATION OF the Law, poysamy fell
into disuse and was accounted, IN 4 measure. i'm
nroDer If not sinful. The exceptions 10 This rule
we're David and Solomon; but God seemed 20 per
nit this in order tha, his k;ng-the kings of Israel
should not be inferior 10 other Eastern monarchs
whose chief racniiicence consisted in the vast
her Of their wives CGncubines. OF whom so much
is said in the ible were regarded BY the nncients
as scmi-wives-the distinction consisted IN the mat
rimouial contract and sOemulzation OF nuptals in
the wife. bu, in the concubine no ceremony was
deemed necessary In the marriage of Jacob with
the daughters of Laban. there were ceremonies
feasts nuptials and sacrifices but nothing like this
occurred in the choice of concubnes-besides, o
concubine was considered a slave. and lived in
state OF servitude Hasar. Abraham second wife.
was also slave as her subsequent election from his
babita,on clearly proves. Jewish doctors main
tain that Hagar was a free woman but became
slave from concubinase. The children OF the prn-
cioa or first wife inherited the property OF the faith
er; the children of concubnes bad mere gifts or
legacies The usage, or common law, in relation TO
concubines required as much loyalty and fidelity to
her master as il she was his wife
Divorces were allowed in the patriarcha tines
they married with little ceremony, and separated
without particular iormalities.
Oflhe forbidden degrees OF marriage by the laws
of Moses. ii is needless to speak; they will all be
Dooi-o of / Tha
ishmen, of death by fire. the penalty OF incestu-
Gus intercourse but ifa man cousorted with his aunt
ed his sister.in-law beside the punishment of DEATH
the law declares "they she'll die chadleSS," which
means that their issue shall be deemed spurious and
illegitimate. An uncle may marry his niece but an
aunt NAV not marry her nephew; and the reason
given is ingenious. and by some may not be deemed
satisfactory An uncle does not lose power and au-
rhoritv over his niece by making her bis wife but
an aunt loses the power and influence which Nature
gave her over her nephew, when she became MS
wife Cousins may always marry-there Is no law
agains, it, but it is deemed lmpolluc to encourage
marriages in families il there Is faint 1t makes II
hereditary. and by minglins strange bloods
more hardy and spirited offspring is frequently
the result Independent OF the injunctions rcla-
tive to cousanguiniiv the laws Of Moses imposed
great restrictions upon the Hebrews in relation to
marriage They strictly for hidden contracting
marriage with the inhabitants of Canaan, lest the
!
idoatrv Some of The Rabbins limited this restrlc-
ton 10 the seven nations but it is evident that 1t OK.
tended TO all dolaicrs yet 1t Is not denied that IL
the women became prOsc ytcs OF Justice, the Jews
were allowed 10 marry them-and this is supposed
to have been the case with Ruth, Moabitess, and
Dcah a Phiistine woman. There were some wo-
men with whom the Jews were never to inermar.
ry; with some others the prohibition only extended
to men, and with some. they might marry when be-
coming prosely,es. Oithe positive prohibition we
may consider the Canaani,e-secondary were the
a mmonitcs and the Moahites, with whom no daughter
OF Israel " as allowed marry but an lsraete might
marry any of these women after they protested the
Icrvi-h faith otherwise Davii. who descended from
Ruth would have been illegitimatc ne reasons LOT
this prohibition from the tact the Amortcs had
denied the Hebrews bread and water when they
were distressed in the wilderness, and the Moahltes
invited Baaam by the promise OF rich gilIs to come
from the Eastern Countries TO curse them Inc
third class were the Edonites and Egyptians but
after three generations. subsequent to telr becoming
proselytes they were al liberty TO marry with He
brcws. These restrictions, however terminated al
the captivity of Babylon when there was such con
fusion and admixture. that such restrictions and pro
hibilions could no longer be enforced. 1t has been
supposed that the prohibition OF marrying with the
Canaanites. extended 10 Christians aud all other
sects and at the great Sanhedrlm at Pans Ill cUc IN
answer 10 the question directly propounded by
Government whether the laws OF Moses prohibited
Jews from marrying Christians, The learned Rabbins
admitted that the laws did not prohibit such mar
ragcs but public opinion among the jewish people
was against il. They might have added with frank
ness and truth that the international marriages oil
Jews is the secret OF the preservation oil the sect
once break ,hrul:h this rule. and IN lew genera
lions the Jewish nation will be uter y unknown
Moses who disposed of every thing with the great
est wisdom and sagaCty, III reeu 'atlng marriage
with foreigners made provision for the case OF sol
der who fell in love with fair captive taken IL
war.
If,he CAPTIVE was Of any other religion but Ca
mantle. he was permitted marry her, if she chang
ed her religion-bu then in order TO do away with
violence and restraint and pay respect 10 tne deiicd-
cv of her POSITION, he was compelled to take her
home where she underwent probation, her mead
was shaved she was deprived oil ornaments 10 deck
her beauty TO let her nails grew. 10 change her ha-
HIS and This was done 10 abaIe the affection OF the
soldier and make trial of his love she had month
allowed 10 sreve for the loss of liberty and parents,
and depore her unhappy position but alter this Pc
Rod If he still loved her in her diminished beauty
and captivity he allowed alter she was oaptzed'
flor bapijsm was strictly Jewish rlteas well as cir
cnmcsion1 10 marry she renouncing dolatry; but il
sh. refused 10 become pr0selyie, she had year TO
consider of il and il she still refused 10 change her
fa-b or become proSelyte OF the Gate, or 10 observe
The seven precepts OF the sons OF Noah she might be
| slain Great decacy and proprletv were required
! in behalf of prisoner but II the soldier NJ any time
wife he was compelled her free, not keep her
as slave or to sell her, bu, allow her to 90 where
| eyer she pleased unhurt and unnjGrcd. She had
been hombed saws the law, ana II her feelings had
been outraged by the cke conduct Of her cOnqueror
he was bound TO make her all the amends in his pow
er. and Sc, her liberty. Great restraint was lmpo-
| sod IN soldiers in the captures they make OF e-
| males in time OF war and this was done to subdue
a rerce and ungovernable passion, and compel them
| 70 be nerciiul 10 the prisoner.
The law EXPIRE. sly prohibited eunuchs from en-.
terjng the CONGREGATION OF the Lord Deut. % }
This did not exclude them from the Temple which
was open to all who had renowned d9air ~ Con
! which no such persons could be admitted because
/ thew were unfit for government as they could moi
hold Office. or marry among lsraeites-emasculatio
(, rendering them in measure unworthy OF dlslinc
! lion among men and being reputed towards
although there are instances in history showing that
ecnte great objects and designs. Aerophon, Cyro
pedia. Lib y Another part OF the law prohibits,
bastard entering the Congregation OF the Lord to the
T.