Conclusion of Laws That Highlight Judicial Mercy And Fair Treatment

Do you shudder to hear that in some lands mere children are being trained as soldiers? In ancient Israel, no man under 20 years of age was inducted into the army. (Numbers 1:2, 3) Even an adult male was exempt if he suffered from undue fear. A newly married man was exempt for a full year so that before embarking upon such hazardous service, he might see an heir born. In this way, the Law explained, the young husband would be able to make his new wife "rejoice." -Deuteronomy 20:5,6, 8; 24:5.

The Law also protected women, children and families, providing for them. It commanded the parents to give their children constant attention and instruction in spiritual things. (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7) It forbade all forms of incest, under penalty of death. (leviticus, chapter 18) It likewise forbade adultery, which so often breaks up families and destroys their security and dignity. The Law provided for widows and orphans and in the stronger possible terms forbade the mistreatment of them. -Exodus 20:14; 22:22-24.

In this connection, however, some might wonder, 'Why did the Law allow for polygamy?' (Deuteronomy21:15-17) We need to consider such laws within the context of times. Those who judge the Mosaic Law from the prospective of modern times and cultures are bound to misunderstand it. (Proverbs 18:13) Jehovah's standard, set way back in Eden, made marriage a lasting union, between one husband and one wife. (Genesis 2:18, 20-24) By the time Jehovah gave the Law to Israel, however, such practices as polygamy had been entrenched for centuries. Jehovah well knew that his "stiff-necked people" would frequently fail to obey even the most basic commands, such as those forbidding idolatry. (Exodus 32:9) Wisely, then, he did not choose that era as the time to reform all of their marital practices. Keep in mind, though, that Jehovah did not institute polygamy. He did, however, use the Mosiac Law to regulate polygamy among his people and to prevent abuses of the practice.

Similarly, the Mosaic Law allowed a man to divorce his wife on a relatively broad range of serious grounds. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) Jesus called this a concession that God had made to the Jewish people "out of regard for [their] hardheartedness." However, such concessions were temporary. For his followers, Jesus restored Jehovah's original standard for marriage. -Matthew 19:8.

Next time: The Law Promoted Love

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002