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In Biblical times people were married at a very young age. Girls were usually betrothed before they reached puberty – majority of the time the marriage would have consummated when the girl reached puberty, and that was usually between the ages of 8, 9 or older,(Note: when a girl reached puberty prior to the 20th century, she was considered to be an adult in most cultures/societies). In this article I will mostly quote Scholarly sources to prove that marriage in ancient Israelite times took place at a very young age, sometimes the girls who were married off were pre-pubescent. There was no law against a pre-pubescent girl being married off. Actually as you will read further, you will come to realise that the Mishnah gave approval for a Man to have intercourse to a betrothed girl, any-time after the age of three years old.
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12 year old Mary’s marriage with 90 year old Joseph the Carpenter
Bible sanctions pre-pubescent marriages (child marriage)
Age of Consent in European & American History
Isaac’s wife was Rebecca, mother of Jacob, and Esua. According to calculations made by Rabbi Solomon Itzhaki (A.K.A. Rashi a well-known respected Jewish Scholar), Rebecca was three years old when she married Isaac.
1. Rashi’s commentary on Genesis 25:20 says:
forty years old: For when Abraham came from Mount Moriah, he was informed that Rebecca had been born. Isaac was then thirty-seven years old, for at that time Sarah died, and from the time that Isaac was born until the “Binding” [of Isaac], when Sarah died, were thirty-seven years, for she was ninety years old when Isaac was born, and one hundred and twenty-seven when she died, as it is stated (above 23:1): “The life of Sarah was [a hundred and twenty-seven years.”] This makes Isaac thirty-seven years old, and at that time, Rebecca was born. He waited for her until she would be fit for marital relations-three years-and then married her.— [From Gen. Rabbah 57:1
[Retrieved it from this website: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8220/showrashi/true]
2. Also Johann Buxtorf cites Rashi that Rebecca was three years old when she married Isaac.
“Rabbi Solomon in his comment on Genesis, says that Rebecca, when she was married to Isaac, was but three Years of Age. His words run thus, ‘When Abraham was come from Mount Moria, he received the joyful News of Rebecca. Isaac was at that Time Thirty seven years old; and then did Sarah die. The time, from birth of Isaac to the death of Sarah, was Thirty seven Years, And Sarah was Ninety Years old when Isaac was born; and One Hundred and Twenty Seven Years old when she died: As it is said in Gen 23:1 . Sarah was one hundred and twenty-seven years old. Behold, the Age of Isaac was Thirty Seven Years, at the Time of the Birth of Rebecca. And when he had waited for her three Years, till she was fit for marriage, he took her to wife.”
According to this Account, Rebecca was a very notable Girl at three years of age. But that a girl of three Years old is fit for marriage, is maintained very plainly in the Jewish writings; particularly, in Emek Hamelech, in the following passage, ‘our blessed sags, of blessed memory, say, that a female is not fit for marriage, ‘till she is arrived at the Age of three years and one day.’ The Talmud supports these Sages here, in the part entitled Avoda Sara. And the Sanhedrin says, A daughter, who is of the age of three years and one day, is, by being bedded with a Man, lawfully married.” [1]
Before going any further, one of the objections raised by some Jewish and most Christian Apologist is that they say, “how can a three year old fetch water out of a well?” They further say, “a girl of that age could not do that she must be a lot older than three.” These statements do not disapprove anything. The way they make it seem, as if it is impossible for a girl to pull 1, 2 letters of water. Any three old girl could pull 1, 2 letters of water out of a well.
3. In addition to what we have already brought forth on Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca, The Zohar, which is Translated/Commentary by Daniel Chanan Matt also makes mention that Isaac married Rebecca when she was three years old.
51. “She was three years old when he embraced her the youngest legal age a female can be-married. See M Niddah 5:4; Seder Olam Rabbah 1; Soferim, add. 1:4 Rashi on Genesis 25:20 Tosafot, Yevamot 61b, s.v. ve-khen; sekhe; Tov, Genesis 24:14.
Rebekah’s three years correspond to the three colors of the rainbow.
52. He engendered at sixty, generating fittingly… see Genesis 25:26. When Isaac fathered Jacob he was sixty years old, symbolizing the full sextet of sefirot from hesed through Yesod, thereby ensuring that Jacob would be complete. [2]
As you have read it is quite clear, a fact that Rebecca married Isaac when she was three years old. Furthermore, we have more evidence from Judaic Holy Book ‘Mishnah’, it gives more weight to the above references that girls as young as three years old were allowed to be betrothed by intercourse at the age of three. Although in Ancient Hebrew marriages girls were recommend to be married at the age of 12, there are laws in the Mishnah that give approval that once betrothed you can have sexual intercourse any-time after the age of three years old.
4. Jacob Neusner is an American academic scholar of Judaism. In the Book: ‘The Comparative Hermeneutics of Rabbinic Judaism: Seder Tohorot. Tohorot through Uqsin.’ The Jewish oral Torah i.e. Mishnah states,
M. 5:4 A girl three years and one day old is betrothed by intercourse. And if a Levir has had intercourse with her, he has acquired her. And they are laible on her account because of the law [Prohibiting intercourse with] a married woman. And she imparts uncleanness to him who has intercourse with her [when she is menstruating] to convey uncleanness to the lower as to the upper layer. [If] she was married to a priest, she eats heave offering. [If] one of those who are unfit [for marriage] has intercourse with her, he has rendered her unfit to marry into priesthood. [If] one of all those who are forbidden in the Torah to have intercourse with her, he is put to death on her account, but she is free of responsibility. [3]
5. A Commentary on the above verse, in the Book: ‘A history of the Mishnaic Law of Purities. 15. Niddah. by Jacob Neusner, it says:
M. 5:4-5 bring us to the next stage in the matter of the legal status of children, female and male. The girl three years and one day old is deemed capable of sexual relations, which accounts for A, B, and C. D. Presumably should not apply to M. 5:3-a; if the girl is unclean as a menstruant but is incapable of sexual relations, one who has (or attempts) relations with her is not made unclean as is one who has had sexual relations with a menstruant. E simply goes over familiar ground; since the girl can be acquired as a wife, she also may eat heave-offering. F. Follows, and G. Repeats what is already obvious. But H limits the matter. The girl is not held responsible in a matter of forbidden sexual relations. I is a minor gloss. If the girl is less than three years and one day old, we do not regard the sexual relationship as of legal consequence. The theory is that the tokens of Virginity are restored before that time but not afterword. [4]
6. The Anglican Priest Herbert Danby in the Book: ‘The Mishnah: Translated from the Hebrew with Introduction and Brief Explanatory notes.’ It says that a girl of three years old and one day could be betrothed by the brother’s husband and he can have intercourse with her.
“A girl three years old and one day may be betrothed by intercourse; her deceased childless husband’s brother can acquire her by intercourse; and by connexion with her a man can be culpable by virtue of the Law of a married woman; and him that has connexion with her [while she is a menstruant] she renders unclean so that he conveys uncleanness to what is beneath him in like degree as [he that has a flux conveys uncleanness] to what lies above him’ if she married to a priest she may eat of Heave-offering; if one that is ineligible has connexion with her he renders her ineligible for marriage with a priest; if any of the forbidden degrees prescribed in the Law had connexion with her they are put to death on her account, but she is not culpable. If she is younger than this, it is as one that puts a finger in the eye.” [5]
7. Edward Hendrie also echoes the same statements made previously
“Orthodox Judaism has a very permissive attitude towards sexual deviance. For example:Sanhedrin 55b: It is permitted to have sexual intercourse with a girl three years and one day old. See also Yebamoth 57b, 60b; Abodah Zarah 37a.
Kethoboth 11b: When a grown-up man has intercourse with a little girl it is nothing, for when the girl is less than three years old it is as if one puts the finger into the eye, tears come to the eye again and again, so does virginity come back to the little girl under three years.” [6]
8. Professor Joshua A. Fogel in his book: ‘Reading Tractate Avodah Zarah of the Babylonian Talmud.’ He says the: ‘tumah of a zav’ is when it happens that is when a boy is ready to cohabit. The Hebrew word ‘zav’ means, In Torah terminology, the Hebrew word zav (lit. “flow”) is a state of ritual impurity arising from abnormal seminal discharge from the male sexual organ” (see Wikipedia.com). Here is what is said,
“The orevious daf ended with R. Yehudah ha-Nasi accepting the view of R. Chiyya that an idolater conveys the tumah of a zav from the nine years and one day (not just one day). When asked about this age, he replies that this is the age at which he is able to cohabit and thus convey the tumah of a zav. If nine seems on the young side, it’s three for girls. In other tractates of the Talmud, these ages, especially for a girl, become extremely relevant, such as in determining what constitutes rape or marriage by cohabitation; I mentioned in here only because how shockingly young it seems to my (and probably most) 21st century eyes. It is Ravina who argues for age of three for girls, rather than from birth which was put forth by Rav Nachman bar Yitzchack on the previous daf. Ravina contribution is to match age cohabitation with age of zav (or niddah) tumah capacity.” [7]
9. Robin Grille
“Among the ancient Hebrews, betrothal by sexual intercourse was permitted with girls aged three years and day, and marriages for girls was actually recommended at 12 years of age. The Biblical woman and child were property, not persons. For the right to marry a pre-pubescent girl, one simply had to pay an agreed sum to her father. In India, child marriage was condemned by law until 1929, although around 80 per cent of the population was still practicing it.” [8]
10. Mary De Young
“The possession of Children by their parents was also given religious sanction in the teachings of both the Talmud and the Bible. Rush (1880) states that the Talmud teaches that a girl of ‘three years and one day’ could be betrothed through an act of sexual intercourse.” [9]
11. Professor Geza Vermes who is well-known and a respected scholar comments that Pre-pubescent girls were allowed to be married.
“…the Greek parthenos could also mean that the girl was young and/or unmarried. In fact, in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament parthenos was used to render three distinct Hebrew words, ‘Virgin’, ‘girl’ and ‘young woman’. Already Rabbis in the Tannaitic era (first to second century ad) subscribed to further nuances, and there is no reason to think that all these were invented by them. Even the word betulah, which normally means virgo intact, when used by them could carry the laternal sense of bodily immaturity with the consequential inability to conceive. In Rabbinic terminology this type of virginity in a woman ceased with the physical onset of puberty. The Mishnah, the oldest of the rabbinic codes, defines a virgin as a female who ‘has never seen blood even though she is married’ (mNiddah 1:4). The Tosefta, another early Jewish code of law, claims in the name of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (late first century ad) that such a woman would continue to count as a virgin even after she had conceived and borne children without prior menstruation (tNiddah 1:6)! To understand these statements, we must remember that in the InterTestamental and early rabbinic age, pre-puberty marriage was generally permitted. In fact rabbis seriously debated whether bloodstains found after the wedding night in nuptial bed of a minor, i.e. a ‘virgin in respect of menstruation’, marked her first period or the consummation of the marriage.” [10]
12. Reverend Kathryn J. Riss also makes mention that in first century parents married off their daughters who were pre-pubescent to much older men. What is interesting is she does not mention once that Rabbis or anyone higher up in authority speaking against such marriages.
“The longest New Testament passage on marriage is found, not in Ephesians, but in 1 Corinthians chapter 7. In stark contrast to the legal positions and social expectations of the first century, here the rights and responsibilities of man and woman are upheld as equal. Although marriages were arranged by parents, who often espoused their pre-pubescent daughters to much OLDER MEN…” [11]
13. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, by G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry it states,
“One might counter that the expression mohar habbetulot (Ex. 22:16[17]) refers rather to the pretium virginitatis. In this case, the mohar would be compensation to the girl for the loss of her virginity. This explanation, however, is unacceptable, since it proceeds on the assumption that the term betula means ‘virgin.’ This may doubtlessly be the case in many passages, but in joel 1:8, betula thus refers to a married woman who had been ‘possessed’ by her husband (ba’al); betula thus refers to a marriageable girl who was physically able to cope with a man, ‘taking her into his possession.’ Here the term betula says nothing about her virginity. Ex.22:16 (17) (kesep yisqol kemohar hab betulot) can thus be translated ‘he shall weigh out as much silver as is required for marriageable girls.’ In this context we should point out that ancient Hebrew custom did not associate marriageability with puberty. In contrast to the marriageable girl (betula), the…. Alma refers to a girl in puberty capable of conception. Girls could in fact already be given marriage long before actual physical maturity, perhaps even as young as five years old (cf. Lev. 27:5), and it did happen that marriages were already consummated with prepubescent girls. [12]
14. Zeʼev Wîlhelm Falq
“A more common practice was the marrying off of minor daughters by their fathers. For instance King Agrippa(s) (41-44 C.E.), left three daughters: ‘of these, one, Berenice, who was sixteen years old, was married to Herod, her father’s BROTHER, and two were unmarried, namely Mariamne and Drusilla, aged respectively ten and six years. They had been promised by their fathers in marriage, Marriamne to Julius Archelaus, son of Helkias, and Drusilla to Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, King of Commagene’ (Josephus, XIX Antiquites, 9. 1. 354). In such cases, marriage and consummation would be postponed until the BRIDE REACHED PUBERTY: it was held proper to marry off a minor daughter with her consent and not against her will. However, these rules were not only applicable to a minor daughter given in marriage by her father, since his right to do so is expressly mentioned in the Torah (Exodus XXI 7; Deuteronomy XXII 16).” [13]
15. T. J. Wray
“In the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, marriage is considered the natural state for men and women, and although there are certainly instances where Jewish men (and rarely, Jewish women) are not married, this is the exception rather than norm. Most women marry quite young, usually soon after the onset of menstruation, which of course, heralds fertility. Men typically marry later (in their twenties, or even thirties) and this most men are older than their wives.” [14]
16. Harry L. Tabony
“BC. The good book of Genesis says that after a few generations Abraham’s progeny had grown to sizeable numbers. That is understandable, considering the practice of multiple wives and marriage just after puberty for girls. Abraham’s many sons could father thousands of children, considering ample girls available from the natives of Canaan.” [15]
17. Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, Professor Mark Avrum Ehrlich writes:
“Girls were often married to their uncles on their father’s side, or to their cousins, in order to secure the family’s capital and in the hope that their kin would take good care of them. Minor girls were betrothed by their fathers (by Kidushin, a legally binding commitment) even before they came of age, and usually began living with their husbands-occasionally much older than them- at the age of puberty.” [16]
18. Respected Rabbi Isaac Klein in his book: ‘A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice’, says that Child marriages were common and that ‘age was not the factor’ when someone had to get married. So in other words no matter what the age of the girl, once the parents gave the go ahead, the girl had to choose the husband, she had no choice in the matter.
“Child marriages were very common in ancient days. Since marriages were arranged by parents and the consent of parties was not necessary, AGE WAS NOT THE FACTOR in coming to an agreement. The physical factor related only to the consummation of the marriage. Hence, there was usually a waiting period between the agreement and the consummation. It is logical to assume that when a boy and a girl reached the age of puberty, and the sex urge demanded satisfaction, ancient society deemed marriage to be the answer. In time, other elements became factor in marriage: climate, social conditions, economic conditions, and even political conditions.” [17]
19. Old Testament Scholar Gordon Wenham
“In reality social custom and pressures greatly curtailed the sexual freedom of men in the Bible times. First, marriages were customarily arranged by parents, as soon as children passed puberty. This meant that there were few unattached girls: most females of marriageable age were either married or betrothed….” [18]
20. David M. Carr Professor of Old Testament
“…ancient Israelite women did have to deal with a constant stream of pregnancies, from when they reached puberty in their teens until they died in their twenties or thirties.” [19]
21. Dr. Richard H. Lowery
“A typical adult Israelite male had a life expectancy of forty years. Infant mortality rates were high, perhaps as high as 50 percent. So women typically had two pregnancies for every one child who reached age five. Since the economic survival of the household depended on the production of able-bodied children, women married immediately after puberty and were pregnant or nursing for a relatively large portion of their life.” [20]
22. Saba Soomekh
“In the early twentieth-century, Iranian Jewish women married at a very young age, either when they reached puberty or by their fifteenth year or sixteenth birthday. Similarly, Jewish women living in Ottoman Libya were married once a girl reached puberty and under Italian rule, ‘women married when they reached their fifteenth or sixteenth birthday, but at times, the brides were much younger.” [21]
23. Steven M. Lowenstein Professor of Jewish History
“The next great life cycle event in Jewish life after the bar Mirzvah is marriage. In most traditional societies (Jewish and Non-Jewish), marriages were arranged between families, with only the most perfunctory consultation with the couple to-be, and often involved complex financial arrangements such as dowries and trousseaus. In the middle ages the age at marriage seems to have been around puberty throughout the Jewish world. …” [22]
24. Ruth Lamdan
“The numerous references to child marriage in the 16th- century Responsa literature and other sources, shows that child marriage was so common, it was virtually the norm. In this context, it is important to remember that in halakha, the term ‘minor’ refers to a girl under twelve years and a day. A girl aged twelve and a half was already considered an adult in all respects.” [23]
25. Philip J. King
“A few anecdotal incidents, and a wealth of later documentation, suggests that women married young, while still in their teens, sometimes early teens, in fact; men waited until well into their twenties or even early thirties before marrying.” [24]
26. Ken Blady
“Persian Jews married off their children very early: boys at ten or twelve, and girls at the very tender age of six or seven. Some girls were mothers by age twelve or thirteen. Polygamy was practiced only by men who could afford more than one wife. It was common for a prepubescent girl to marry a man who was old enough to be her grandfather.” [25]
27. Professor Harvey E. Goldberg
“Habbani Jewish ‘women’ were almost always prepubescent at their first marriage. Their first husbands were often in their late teens. Normally, there was neither bride price nor dowry, but a groom was expected to provide wedding jewelry and seven goats for the wedding festivities. The jewelry became a woman’s property. Occasionally, the bridegroom was far older than the bride.” [26]
28. Jonathan B. Krasner says that betrothal took place at the age of eight or nine, now keep in mind earlier we provided evidences that once a girl was betrothed the husband can engage with her sexually:
“Betrothal, or engagement, generally occurred at the age eight or nine. Jewish girls typically married at age eleven or twelve and boys at about thirteen or fourteen. (In Germany and France, Christian girls typically married at twelve or thirteen, and boys were usually in their late teens or twenties.)… (Marriage in Ashkenazic).” [27]
I believe who ever reads this article will agree that Judaism in past practised and allowed pre-pubescent marriages. Also, Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca, all the evidence shown is in agreement that Isaac married Rebecca when she was three years old. Whatever some Christian/Jews (modern) may say about Rebecca being older because she fetched water out of a well, they have no proof that a girl of three cannot fetch 1 – 2 litters of water out of a well. I also gave many references that the Mishnah gave approval for girls to be betrothed by intercourse at the age of three
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References:
[1]Johann Buxtorf, Johann Andreas Eisenmenger, John Peter Stehelin
Rabinical literature: or, The traditions of the Jews, contained in their Talmud and other mystical writings. Likewise the opinions of that people concerning Messiah, and the time and manner of his appearing; with an appendix comprizing Buxtorf’s account of the religious customs and ceremonies of that nation; also, A preliminary enquiry into the origin, progress, authority, and usefulness of these traditions; wherein the sense of the strange allegories in the Talmud and Jewish authors is explained. [ Publisher: London J. Robinson, 1748] Volume 1 page 33 – 34
[2] The Zohar: Pritzker Edition. Volume two, (2003) page 264 [The Zohar 1:136b] Translation and Commentary by Daniel Chanan Matt
[3] The Comparative Hermeneutics of Rabbinic Judaism: Seder Tohorot. Tohorot through Uqsin By Jacob Neusner Volume 6 [Copyright 2000] page 152
[4] A history of the Mishnaic Law of Purities. 15. Niddah . Commentary edited by Jacob Neusner page 83
[5] The Mishnah: Translated from the Hebrew with Introduction and Brief Explanatory notes Herbert Danby page 750
[6] Solving the Mystery of Babylon the Great By Edward Hendrie
[7] Reading Tractate Avodah Zarah of the Babylonian Talmud By Professor Joshua A. Fogel page 84
[8]Parenting for a Peaceful World By Robin Grille
[9]Mary De Young The sexual victimization of children page 103
[10] The Changing Faces of Jesus By Geza Vermes
[11] Journey’s End: Removing Biblical Barriers Between Women and Their Destiny By Reverend Kathryn J. Riss, THM page 164
[12] Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Volume 8 edited by G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, Heinz-Josef Fabry [1997] page 144 – 145
[13] Introduction to Jewish law of the second Commonwealth. 2 (1978) By Zeʼev Wîlhelm Falq part 2 page 278
[14] What the Bible Really Tells Us: The Essential Guide to Biblical Literacy By T. J. Wray page 146 chapter 7
[15] Christianity’s Source: It All Came from Ancient Egypt By Harry L. Tabony
[16] Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, Volume 1 By Mark Avrum Ehrlich page 258
[17] A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice By Isaac Klein page 396
[18] Story as Torah: Reading the Old Testament Ethically By Gordon Wenham page 84
[19] The Erotic Word: Sexuality, Spirituality, and the Bible By David M. Carr Professor of Old Testament Union Theological Seminary In New York page 43
[20]Sabbath and Jubilee (Understanding Biblical Themes) By Richard H. Lowery page 8
[21] Saba Soomekh Between Religion and Culture: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women from the Shahs to Los Angeles Page 65
[22] The Jewish Cultural Tapestry : International Jewish Folk Traditions By Steven M. Lowenstein, Professor of Jewish History, University of Judaism page 108
[23] A Separate People: Jewish Women in Palestine, Syria, and Egypt in the sixteenth Century By Rûth Lamdān page 47
[24] Life in Biblical Israel By Philip J. King, Lawrence E. Stage page 37
[25] Jewish Communities in Exotic Places By Ken Blady Page 69
[26] Sephardi and Middle Eastern Jewries: History and Culture in the Modern Era edited by Harvey E. Goldberg page 267
[27] The History of the Jewish People: A Story of Tradition And Change By Jonathan B. Krasner, Jonathan D. Sarnapage volume 1 page 83
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Reblogged this on God is not Triune and commented:
Bible: Child Marriage in Ancient Israelite times – Paedophilia?
Great informative article! Thank you very much.
Besides the fact that the Bible in some places seems to suggest that some great biblical personalities did marry very young girls (such as the case of Prophet Isaac, the great ancestor of Jesus), no where does the Bible forbids one marrying a young girl (e.g of 9) that reaches puberty. If God does no where forbid or abhor it in the very time it was not only happening but the norm, who else has the right to forbid it?!
It is only the mind brain-washed by human secular traditions that finds fault with that which God never find fault with. “It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach man-made commandments as though they were God’s rules! You put aside the commandment of God and abide by the teachings of men.” (Mark 7: 7, TEV).
Salaam
Thank you for reading. Great points you made.
I have been against radical ISIS type Muslims, practicing pedophilia etc. Child abuse has been around for ever and is scientifically proven to be devastating, physically, mentally and emotionally. Scientists say that the Qua ran explains how man was created. So once we are shown, that God did not physically design females for intercourse, before they are mature, we are now responsible for that knowledge. Tonight I decided to look up Israelite and early Christian’s child marriages. This was an eye opener to me. I will look into it further, however I can see this as true. How can it be physically possible for a girl of three years and one day, to be able to survive the penetration that would surely go up into her stomach and not be terribly damaged, if not dying from a hemorrhage! Genisis 1:26 Let us make man (mankind) into our image, in our likeness . . . Genesis 1:27 So God created man (mankind) in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
I think you should read these as well,
Age of consent in America and Europe
https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/09/09/age-of-consent-in-european-american-history/
Also Mary’s age when she was married off,
https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/09/30/marriage-of-mary-to-joseph-the-carpenter/
What does Genesis 1:26 have to do with child marriage ? ISIS ? That was made by the United States.
Reblogged this on Critical Thinking – A World View and commented:
Just more injustice and oppression from the manmade hate book called the Bible.
Thanks for the info
Your welcome Brother
Wow. MashaAllah for the research. Jazakallahu khairan for sharing
Your welcome Akhi. If I have time InShaaAllah there is should be another article upcoming on Isaac’s marriage with more information.
Your sources are horrible when Abrahams servant saw Rebecca she had a pitcher on her shoulder goimg to draw water out of a well… then not only did she give the servant dring she gave his camels drink also. So yur tellin me that a 2-3yr old baby did this by herself. You are blind of the truth and trying to spread your false propaganda because you guys are a bunch of paedophiles. .. this info is not hard to find it takes 2seconds to open the book and demolish this garbage. Anyone who finds truth in this either cant read or is a babe in christ because they dont read. Point blank!
Hi Whitney Houston
What ever the case maybe on Rebecca’s marriage with Isaac, at what age they got married, you have to remember I am only showing you evidence what Jewish Scholars have said about it. No need to get angry! BTW, hopefully when I have time on my hand, there is should be part 2 on Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca, using historical evidences. Peace
I find this a spiritual awaking of what was going on at that time, of what God allowed. Our mouths may drop in awe, our hearts spirit, soul and flesh may not understand. We cannot question the Mind of God, or understand . . . just receive it as truth of what was. (and in acknowledging) some countries still do today even though we may not like it.
Oh, . . . The person above Her name says Whitney Simon . . . not ( Houston ). Have A Great Day ! : )
Such an interesting body of research! But I don’t think her age (even if 3) would make Isaac out to be a pedophile. Consider Genesis 25:20 – “and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel”. And now, verse 21 – “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”. And finally, verse 26 – “After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. Notice there are 20 years between verse 20 and 21. Possibly 20 years between the marriage and Isaac praying about childbirth. So perhaps intercourse did not seal the marriage in this specific case?
Where is all your proof for this? This is all a lie. Jewish culture made it a law for children to not marry unless they were 12 for girls, 13 for boys, and had parents permission. Where did you get 3 years old from? You are a liar. You got none of this from scripture. Im sorry were scholars alive 2000 years ago? What Abraham’s time? Were we alive 3000 years ago? You will be judged according to this lie on judgement day. In reality, we don’t know the ages of anyone who got married because scripture does not say. We only know that tradition made it to get married at 12 years old a minimum. In reality, Islam can marry 3 year olds right now in the year 2014. The founder of Islam, the false prophet Muhammad, married a 6 year old girl and had sex with her when she was 9. Enjoy living in your lie. I’ll enjoy living in the truth.
Hello Ryan
The proof is what I have presented from their own Holy Books. You may want to read this article again, and also check the references I have given. Besides this, here is another one from you, from the Bible.
https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/11/14/bible-does-numbers-3118-sanction-pre-pubescent-marriages-child-marriage-2/
There were 3 stages to a females life and she was PROPERTY. A “ketannah” -birth to 3 yrs. old. A “na’arah” -12-12 1/2 yrs old. A “bogeret” – 12 1/2 + 1 day and up where she was an adult. YOU need to look into the actual Jewish customs of that day. And how about King David and Abishag the Shunammite…she was a “na’arah”…between 12 to 12 1/2 years old and for her to “lie in his bosom” would have meant fornication for the KING had she not have been a secondary wife ( concubine ). Females had marriage arrangements made from birth buddy-o at that time and God did not condemn the practice. Get out of your Bible and read the Torah and do your research or does it go against your man-made precepts of girls getting married at 30 ?
Oh he’ll no dont be trying turn that shit on Islam. In our Quran it also doesn’t state Aisha s age. Omg see how these Christians be acting up they want to point fingers at a Muslim.you foolish idiot t his is even not about Islam this is about YOUR religion that you don’t know nothing about then you have audacity to speak about Islam?! Go take a sit bro
Wow you are clearly upset. Slander Islam all you want doesn’t change the facts.
LIARS! I WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE TO DEFEND MOHAMMAD AS BEING A PEDOPHILE. WHICH MUSLIMS ADMIT TO AND USE THIS AS THEIR ARGUMENT TO DEFEND THIS PERVERSION WHICH THIS IS NOT TRUE. CHRISTIANITY NEVER PROMOTED PEDOPHILIA. NEVER. . THIS IS PROVEN IN THE SCRIPTURES NOT BY SOME SCHOLARS WORD. STOP SPREADING YOUR LIES. MOHAMMAD WAS A PERVERT AND YOU ARE FOLLOWING A FALSE GOD WHO HAS BEEN CREATED BY SATAN HIMSELF.. REPENT STOP SPREADING LIES STOP DECEIVING PEOPLE . THERE IS NO REMISSION OF SINS WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD .. JESUS CHRIST PAID THE PENALTY
OF DEATH FOR YOUR PERVERTED SOUL… HE IS THE SON OF GOD, HE IS THE WORD OF GOD HE IS GOD IN THE FLESH. HE IS RETURNING NOT MOHAMMAD AND YOU WILL STAND BEFORE HIM ONE DAY SOON AND GIVE ACCOUNT FOR THESE LIES AND YOUR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH. ISLAM IS SATANIC, YOURE UNDER THE DEVILS SPELL… CRY FOR MERCY TURN TO JESUS HE IS THE REAL PEACE MAKER
Kelly No need to spew your venom here. You can debate here without getting all emotional about it. I cited Jewish Scholarly references in this article. They all believe that Isaac was 40 years old when he married 3 year old Rebekah. You’re wrong the Bible does sanction pre-pubescent marriages,
https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/11/14/bible-does-numbers-3118-sanction-pre-pubescent-marriages-child-marriage-2/
Also on the term ‘Son of God’ read this,
https://discover-the-truth.com/2014/02/07/son-of-god-meaning-for-jesus-christ/
Hey Lady You Are The One Who Is Following A False Religion Based On A Book Which Has Been Distorted.Oh And Before Ranting Pedo and Perv Would You Be Kind Enough To Tell Us About The Child Abuse Committed By The Church Throughout It’s History.Or What About All The Pagan Beliefs That Have Permeated Christianity.Once We Talk About That Then We Will Find Out Who Is The Satanic Cult
woah…get help
Islamic scripture doesn’t promote pedophilia either. You people are bunch of liars. I’m Sunni Muslim and I know this for certain. Because, what you people do is to falsely attribute this lie to the Messenger of God which is not acceptable. And no true Muslim doesn’t practice what you’re saying.
If I would be king of Saudi Arabia, I would punish a Muslim who commits pedophilia with one hundred lashes for violating Quran 4:6
It appears (but I would have to do more research) this whole mess started when Rabbi Solomon Itzhaki (Rashi), who lived around 3000 years after the time of Abraham and Isaac, added something to the Bible that is not there which is his statement that Abraham was informed of Rebecca’s birth at Mt. Moriah. That is not in Genesis. I would also like to point out that this does not make sense in light of the fact Genesis 24 says Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac among his relatives. Abraham clearly did not tell Eliezer to go and get Rebecca. I would offer the Book of Jasher as a more reliable witness as to Rebecca’s age when she married Isaac. According to the Book of Jasher Chapter 24 verse 40 it says Rebecca was 10 years old. I have found the Book of Jasher to be fairly reliable overall especially when it comes to ages and years when various events happened. The first half of the Book of Jasher agrees with Genesis in almost every situation. The latter part of the presently circulated copy of the Book of Jasher has some questionable stories. It does offer great insight into many stories that don’t make sense to the modern reader of Genesis. There are many things in the book that are clearly explained that while shocking can be found in Genesis only no one knows what Genesis is saying. A great example is the story of Anah. Modern translators do not even know what Anah saw in the desert (Genesis 36:24) and translates the mysteries Hebrew word as “hot springs” or “mules”. The Hebrew word is yeemim. The Book of Jasher tells an entire story about Anah and calls these strange creatures Yemim (Jasher 36:28). The story is shocking (which explains why it was mentioned in the genealogy of Genesis 36) but these creatures can be found in many ancient mythologies and in my personal opinion are most likely demonic and were widely known in the ancient world which explains why they are found in so many mythologies from different cultures and languages. I only give this example because it shows how valuable the Book of Jasher can be at finding an ancient source that helps explain and illuminate or at least gives reasonable explanations to some of the strange things that can be found in Genesis. I found around 50 unique things in the Book of Jasher that would point towards it possibly being authentic. I do not believe that the current version we have is without errors and possibly has some additions most of which are near the end of the Book of Jasher. The Book of Jasher is mentioned in II Samuel 1:18 and Joshua 10:13. Jasher means upright or righteous. So a good translation of the Hebrew phrase is the Book of the Upright/Correct Record. You can read the Book of Jasher online at: http://www.succatyeshua.nl/upload/files/The%20book%20of%20Jasher.pdf There are several apocryphal Book of Jashers in circulation. Be sure to read the correct one that I referenced above. Also, I would like to add an example of Jasher being very good at helping solve questions of age and dates. The Book of Jasher is written chronologically whereas Genesis jumps around a bit. This allows the reader to piece together interesting things that have baffled many scholars for centuries. Most of the modern scholarly world believes Abraham was born 75 years before Terah died. However, according to the Book of Jasher he was born much earlier. Genesis condenses people’s lives into stories and then throws in a genealogy. As a result scholars have taken Genesis 11:32 and Genesis 12:4 and deduced that Abraham was born when Terah was 130 years old. However, Genesis 11:26 clearly says Abram was born when Terah was 70 years old which means Abram was born 60 years earlier than most scholars believe. This means Abram lived during the time of Noah, Shem and Eber. The Book of Jasher discusses the interactions Abram had with Noah since their lives overlapped by around 60 years. According to Jasher Abram did leave Harran when he was 75 years old but this was 60 years before his father died and Abraham eventually went back to Harran for a period of time during which his father died. Keep in mind Abraham lived to be 175 years old. He moved around many times as the Bible even mentions him travelling to Canaan, Egypt and other places as well. So by mixing a genealogy with a story the scholars made a critical mistake and failed to see that Genesis 11:26 is correct and as a result it makes perfect sense that Abraham and Noah knew each other very well. One last story I found interesting was that the Book of Jasher says Abraham was thrown into a fiery furnace and survived just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did in the book of Daniel. I was shocked when I read this but later found out that in the Middle East many people tell this story. It makes sense they could know some things about Abraham that the western world doesn’t know since Abraham is the father of many nations. Not only did Ishmael grow into a nation or many nations but Abraham’s children through his wife Keturah also became many nations.
Hi John Giberson, thank you for your comment. Interesting you brought the Book of Jasher up, on how old Rebekkah was. I done some research on that 4 months back, but I didnt get to finish my research fully. Hopefully when I have time on my hand, I will publish part 2 on Isaac and Rebekkah’s marriage, at what age they were married. BTW, Rabbi Solomon Itzhaki (Rashi), was not the only Scholar who believed Rebekkah was 3 when married off. There are other earlier scholar(s) who believed such.
Bismillah, I did not get a chance to read all of this, the people attack Muhammad Sal Allahu alayhi wa salam about the marriage to Aisha nowadays.. It is funny because the people during his time and after who did not believe in his message, they never attacked him about the marriage to Aisha. It shows that this was normal during the time, that women were married off once they have reached the age of puberty. Some of the biblical scholars also say Mary (alayha salam) was around 12 when she gave birth to Jesus alayhi salam, but there is no proof of this from the Qur’an so it may not be true but Allah knows best.
Salam.
It was normal indeed. It is only n the 20th century onwards that this started becoming an issue. Before the 20th century when a girl hit puberty she was considered to be a ‘woman’. Here, read this as well:
https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/09/09/age-of-consent-in-european-american-history/
BTW, there is nothing in the Quran or Hadith which conflicts with Mary being married. January, this month there should be a part 2 on Isaac’s marriage released, InShaa’Allah.
Ignore those people who attack the Messenger of God, because those who say he was a pedophile(audhubillah) are really ignorant and stupid. Don’t consume your energy on fools.
Thanks a lot, you just gave me an effective weapon to fight anybody who goes against my Prophet. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart.
First of all allow me to pray for you in Arabic
أسأل الله الحي القيوم أن يبارك لك في علمك وعملك وأن ييسر دربك وأن يبارك لك في رزقك وأن يجمعنا مع حبيبنا صلى الله عليه وسلم في جنات النعيم، جزاك الله خيراً على هذا الطرح المؤصل
Jazak Allah Khyran
I must say that I am amazed by this article, It is quite impressive. Keep up good work man .
I’d suggest you go do your own research. This guy has done nothing more than present what is equal to false Hadith and tried to pass them off as Kosha.
God must have created Eve as a baby or three year old and one day, instead of a fully grown woman as i have thought. if all the above is the norm. Its probably the reason why there were no children born in the garden of Eden, because a baby cant have a baby. It stands to reason then that Adam waited till she was three and one day for her to try to conceive. Also its no wonder Rachel died having Benjamin, Her young torn body probably wasn’t able to bear the inhuman imaginations and demands of men in her short life time. Pity…., The whole middle east is so hell bound and their minds so cluttered with thoughts of intercourse and female virginity. It must be all they discuss at the dinner table.
You forgot about Europe it was even worse in Europe , did you forget about Europe because you are a racist ? you sound like one.
Haha you’re really comparing civility of these two separate civilizations? Darker the skin the more animalistic and evil a nation becomes. You sound like a brainwashed SJW snowflake, ignoring the blatantly obvious yet swept under the rug in lieu of swinging at white ghosts. Ever hear of any of these stories? http://www.newnation.org/NNN-dark-crime.html
Europeans are Israel and Ireland is Judah as you can tell from all the Lion and red hand crests! The Lord will avenge us!! Joel 3:20-21 “ But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem to all generations.
I will avenge their blood,
blood I have not avenged,
for the Lord dwells in Zion.”
You do nothing to prove Rebecca’s real age. Why not?
Interesting article. However, I’m finding that your quoting scripture is actually inaccurate. For instance, in Genesis 23:1, it actually says, ““Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
However, your quote is significantly off. Also, if you read farther into chapter 24, you find that Isaac and Abraham did not even know Rebekah until she was older.
With such a huge discrepancy early in your article, I find it difficult to not question the integrity of the remainder of the article.
http://blog.adw.org/2014/08/what-were-weddings-like-in-jesus-day/
Girls were given into marriage( betrothal is the 1st stage) typical at 13 or 14 years old;which is the average age of enter the 4th stage of puberty.
Is there any law in these modern times to restrict the age after which a man or woman can’t marry?
If not, can he or she marry to a person who has just reached the modern time legal age, say, 16 or 18?
For example, if I am 53 year old at present and want to marry a girl of 18 years, a legal age nowadays, can any law stop me legally? Is there any country which has such laws?
The age of 18 is accepted by majority of Western countries to be a age where the male or female can choose the person whom they want to marry. As long as the person is same age, the age gap don’t affect the marriage by Law.
However, in some Asian or Arab countries, you have to be 21 for marriage. But majority of countries allow an 18 year old to get marriage to whom they like.
below 18, is not legal in some countries. Unless a court order is issued. If I remember right, UK allow for marriage to take place at the age of 16 (with parents consent), but don’t know whether there is a age gap restriction for the partner as well or do they have to be similar age for the marriage to take place? You need to look at laws for each country around the world.
This is pure garbage lies stupid islam favoring lie
Please explain how a 3 year old girl could draw water 10 camels & be allowed to venture on her own to a well ???
This is answered here:
https://discover-the-truth.com/2016/10/26/the-age-of-rebecca-when-she-married-isaac-biblical-perceptive/
And:
https://discover-the-truth.com/2016/11/17/what-was-rebeccas-age-when-given-away-in-marriage-naar/
yes, thank you
Bismillah, educational, excellent SIR, please continue, love to read more, thanks, sukhran, salaam, Toronto,
The Jews that wrote the Mishna did not believe in Jesus as being the Messiah, while it is plain from the scriptures that he is. They were errant in their judgements and their commentaries. It is ludicrous to state that Rebekah was three year old when she was married. These men were not lead by the Spirit of God in anyway to proclaim their false teachings. I feel sorry for anyone who is lost by following these blind guides.
I am myself a Christian, however what you are saying is a very insecure defense. You attack men instead of attacking the message, which is what people do when they do not have solid argument to propose. For your point basically is: “they are not Christians so they have no credibility whatsoever and everything they are saying is false, no demonstration needed, thanks anyway”.
For your information, many reference materials used by scholars and pastors to study the Bible were not written by Bible-believing Christians. Many of the tools used to translate and study the Bible were written by Hebrew speaking Jews who could therefore provide useful dictionaries and such for both Jews and Christians interested in studying the texts. Moreover, before displaying this type of intolerance remember were Christianity originates from. Instead of singling out the Jews who wrote the Mishna, you could say more generally that Jews are the ones who crucified Jesus so they have no credibility to provide Christian insights… even for Biblical records being at the heart of the Torah, and referring to a culture that they know better than anyone else.
The people making these comments are very credible and legitimate considering their background, and despite this they do not even take a dogmatic and condescending stance like you, but build an argument from scratch.
Then from a different perspective, the author of this article quotes 28 substantial arguments from learned people. All your able to do, is dismiss everything without having any credible argument to oppose. These people justify their position, and I am personally convinced. if you think that you can be guided by the spirit by refusing to diligently study the scriptures and their historical context, you are kidding yourself.
Also, consider this:
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/3-to-4-year-old-milestones
There is no need to speculate on what a 3yo child can do. At this age a child is more than able to have a pitcher of his shoulders, and even draw water from a well. Just check the link above which describes the AVERAGE abilities of a 3yo child. But many children are well beyond average in terms of development.
For this reason, I would also note that the Bible mentions that she gave water to all the camels specifically because this action may have played a key part in the decision to select her for marriage. Otherwise while would the Bible mention such a mundane event?
There is nothing so hard to believe about the fact that a 3yo can draw water, specially in those days when drawing water was central to daily life. But giving water to all the camels was certainly a remarkable fact that God wanted to emphasize and that this man noticed.
“You have this beautiful girl who is at high-end of maturity, virtuousness and strength, this is the right one”.
Hello can we speak more about that?
There is something we may not being taking into account with Rebekah she could have some kind of medical problem. When I was in grade school there was a 10 year old girl what had the body of a 18 year old. She had some kind of medical problem. she was bigger stronger than children her age. Sadly she was died in a car crash. Maybe Rebekah had the same medical problem her body could have been a lot older than her age. This could have been in the family DNA something God put in in Adim to speed up birth rate.
I found the name of the of the diseases ENDOOCRINE diseases. it controls Growth and development, Metabolism – digestion, elimination, breathing, blood circulation and body temperature, Sexual function, Reproduction, and Mood. how fast God can make this work is up to Him, He is in control.
Good article dealing with a subject not many can receive because of how morals and standards change from one generation to another, personally I have a hard time agreeing to any young woman under age getting married by our standards however our times are nothing compared to ancient biblical times, I can also understand why translators change the meaning of different words found in ancient text especially in today’s translations of the bible, who in their right mind would conceive God bringing His son into this world through a young woman whom hasn’t began her periods, to claim Mary was any older than what most females were when they became menstrual is actually denying the true miracle that was performed, any female having a egg regardless of the situation and getting pregnant is NOT a miracle, also factor in Jesus blood and the need for it to be pure based on the belief that sin was in the blood, it’s not possible for the egg or seed of a man to have had any part in the making of Jesus, could also be why Jesus was so ugly by man’s standards, irregardless of how Jesus was brought into this world, that doesn’t mean it’s God’s will for men to marry young women before the proper time, God is NOT going to do for every young girl what HE did for Mary in her case but it should also be noted that the older a young girl gets and is forced to wait to reach an acceptable age to get married, the more difficult it becomes for her to live up to societies standards, let alone the age it takes now to start a family and support one, since it’s too obvious to anyone that studies scriptures that many words and sentences were manipulated to mean whatever was agreeable with the majority, I can say for certainty, what is written MUST be discerned as to whether it was inspired by God or assumed by men, just as what was written ( all scripture is inspired by God) which is not possible for that author in his time as the New Testament didn’t exist and he would have been talking about the old which we all know is a never ending battle over truth, it is also not possible to prove to anyone that the scriptures are NOT God to anyone that their God is the scriptures, the majority of people trying to get a understanding of the meaning of words they don’t know do just the opposite of what they should, they go to the wisdom of this world for understanding, the dictionary, not that this is bad for a understanding of the things of this world but no doubt not even close to the things that pertain to God, informative article though which after reading only assures me the spirit is truth, plus some things just stand to reason, a young woman having begun her periods and getting pregnant is NOT a miracle, even if she claims she never been with a man, happens all the time today, also I must add that the ancients could prove whether a young girl was a virgin or not by the cloth presented to the judges, obviously they were looking for blood, no blood ( menstrual blood) and she was a virgin, the uncleanness found in her by her husband was more than likely caused by him and his size, they had such a thing about blood it probably freaked him out, also parents that know their daughter hadn’t begun her periods and there was blood on her undergarments, they could only assume she was playing the harlot, to put her to death? GOD forbid!
You don’t known the Father if you think he is okay with 12-15 year old being pregnant. Pregnancy and childbirth are risky and even more so for growing girls. God most likely cause Mary’s betrothal to last for several years until she was at least 18. A prefect Father (and only he is the prefect one) would do so. So what if it was the “norm to get married at 12”. God knows better. Matter of fact I found many sources that states that Jewish women in ancient Israel most often married after 15. I going to post two.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Jewish_Marriage_in_Antiquity.html?id=BQBaDwAAQBAJ Pg 107-110
https://books.google.com/books?id=mFZsgugWF_UC&pg=PA52&dq=babylonian+jewish+girls+married+in+their+early+to+mid+teen+years&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM07-bgb_3AhUKg3IEHcOGA3kQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false