Deuteronomy 21:15
The Right of the Firstborn
Read Deuteronomy 21:15 Using Other Translations
What does Deuteronomy 21:15 mean?
If a man have two wives
Which is supposed, but not approved of, though permitted because
of the hardness of men's hearts; for it was not so from the
beginning, when only one man and one woman were created, and
joined together in marriage; but as it was connived at, and
become customary, a law is made to prevent confusion, and
preserve order in families:
one beloved and another hated;
or less loved, yet continued his wife, and not divorced. Aben
Ezra observes, this follows upon the former, because it is there
said, that though first he had a desire to her (the captive
beautiful woman), yet afterwards had no delight in her:
and they have borne him children both, the beloved and the
hated;
as Rachel and Leah did to Jacob, who were, the one very much
beloved by him, and the other less:
and if the firstborn son be hers that was
hated;
or not so much beloved as the other, as was the case in the above
instance.
