Jennifer Solis, More Problems With Your Interpretation

Submitted by orange yonason (United States), Dec 21, 2008 at 03:57

B"H

"... regarding Deut. 21:15; should the second wife mentioned be an addition, and not a replacement (remember the context; the preceeding verses describe the aquisition of, then DISCARDING of, the first wife),"

Deut, 21,14 is talking about a man who has no other wife, and wants to take the captive woman he became passionate for during the war. "Discarding" her is the result that the Torah desires, and if he comes to his senses after the month he has to wait, and then does send her away, he must do that as the Torah prescribes.
Deut, 21,15 is talking about the same scenario, EXCEPT that this 2nd guy already has a wife, whom he does NOT have to divorce.

IN BOTH CASES THE "HATED" WIFE IS THE CAPTIVE WOMAN HE FINDS DURING THE WAR.

The hatred that the Torah is talking about is one he always had for the captive, but didn't realize until later when he [hopefully] came to his senses. It was unconscious. The Torah knows that if he doesn't set her free, he WILL eventually come to consciously hate her (come to realize he always hated her) because the appeal was from passion, not reason.

But, if he doesn't come to his senses, the Torah permits him to marry her, even if he already has another wife whom he loves and is NOT required to divorce. The Torah then goes on to tell us that if he does marry the captive [whether or not he was already married], he will have a son from her, who, like that wife, will give him nothing but heartache.

Another proof that you are wrong is Deut, 25,5-6, which prescribes Yibum (Levirate Marriage), where the Torah prescribes that a brother marry his dead brother's wife. You cannot say that if the living brother is married that he must divorce his wife, because the Torah doesn't say so. You also cannot say that he must refuse if he is already married, because if that were the case the Torah would have instructed him to do that.

[note that in addition to Rabbis, there are also knowledgeable women, as well as other scholars who aren't Rabbis, (all carefully selected) who respond to questions at "Ask Moses."]

Another good resource is Rabbi Tovia Singer, who has very extensive experience answering questions rooted in misconceptions about Torah and it's meaning.

Regards

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