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The etymology of the word “Uncleanness in her” is from the Hebrew ‘erwath dabbar’ which come from ‘aw-raw’, which is defined as “to be bare, empty, pour out, demolish which has as its resulting meaning nudity {fig, disgrace, blemish} or nakedness, shame, uncleanness. Brown, Driver and Briggs in their books, rendered it thus, “nakedness of a thing that is, probably indecency, improper behavior” then also cited in Deuteronomy 23:14 and 24:1 as examples of this use of the word. Most likely then, the uncleanness in Deuteronomy 24:1 refers to some indecency or impropriety of behavior. It cannot refer to illicit sexual intercourse alone, but it could be refereed to as some kind of shameful conduct connected with sex life and other aspect of unfaithfulness.
The term under discussion has been of great controversy among the Jewish schools of thought, especially in the Hillel and Shammai. The Shammai school of thought which is the more conservative of the rabbinical schools held the older view which set forth that only unchastity on the part of the wife could justify a divorce. This extremes view seems to have brought about a reaction in Jewish thought, for the later view tended to extend the grounds for divorce. Thus the school of Hillel interprets the biblical statement to mean any reason whatsoever and cites an example “even if she spoils a dish in cooking”. Akiba adds, almost frivolously, even if she finds a woman more beautiful than she is.”
It’s of note however, that the Pharisees were reflecting on this interpretation when they asked Jesus, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” Matthew 19:3. It was a Jewish law that if a man marries a woman and finds out that she is not a virgin he will put her away. This is not supposed to be only a Jewish law, it is very normal because our women of this age are very lustful and promiscuous. They profoundly ignore the virginity of life, because the present day value is lost. The young men of this era are yearning for the reenacting of the Mosaic law which to all extent protect the virginity of the woman. The lack of virginity was one of the reasons for which the Jews promoted divorce, though there were other reasons which informed why the Pharisees confronted Jesus Christ thus, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for EVERY CAUSE?”
The answer of Christ to the above question is of great importance, he replied in essence thus, “No, when God unites a man and woman in matrimony, he never intends for that union to be dissolved”. Here is the essence of this academic exercise which presents the philosophy of meta-theology to the Christian concept of divorce and remarriage.”
Every reader of this article should note hitherto that the moment God { not man} unites a man and woman nobody can separate them. The matrimony becomes holy in essence hence his unalloyed approval. But if your Pastor, Rev. Fr., Evangelist, General Overseer, Bishop, Pope, Apostle, Teacher, Spiritual Master, Aladura or Prophet unite you, such a union if not contracted by destiny will be divorced because the Bible had said, “Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed” Amos 3:3.
This aforementioned agreement is the transcendent agreement by which God brings two to be one flesh indeed. Yes one flesh not in the church man’s concept but in the divine arrangement of God. Now when they heard the reply of Christ, they said, “if that’s so why did Moses command that a bill of divorcement be given to the wife by the husband?.”
Because he knew the hard-hardedness of the Jewish males,” Jesus responded. You can recall that nothing was said concerning a woman who married a man and found a fault in him rather the reverse was the case. If the woman is defiled or uncleanness is found in her, she becomes contaminated as a result divorce registers its presence.
Men let us be realistic once in a life time! If you marry a woman and finally discovers that she is not a virgin how do you feel? Will you be so happy with her for breaking her virginity without respect for her future husband no matter the reason? Any disvirgined woman has lost her respect and pride including shame. She is such a person that may not be ashamed to be naked before any other man in life anymore. Men, it is true that when you begin to imagine how your fellow man enjoyed your wife before you met her, you will continue to live in emotional pains and agony.
You that is holding this book now be realistic to yourself without religious hypocrisy, was your wife a virgin? If no, then think of who enjoyed her first and how she enjoyed that enjoyment. Now do you know that if you had lived during the dispensation of the law you would have divorced her?.
Well the law is a thing that must be obeyed. But as Christians does this Jewish law relate to us? As Christians are we bound by Jewish ceremonial law?.
NOTE: Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He was very careful with his Jewish brothers when he replied them, thus, He never intended to break the law, he never intended to make it harder to live for God under the New Covenant than it had been under the Old Covenant. And he never intended for us to look at anything he said or did, apart from the law of love.
Jesus was ready to follow the reality of life hence he also used a clause “except for fornication” which is a profound indication that divorce can be possible only when [if} the conditions are met. We shall for the purpose of clarity do justice to this statement “save for the cause of fornication” as Jesus rested his case upon it