10.19.26 – More Than One Wife

Before we move forward, let us uncover some self-revealing themes. Let us go back in time and connect a couple of prophetic thoughts from the earlier chapters of Genesis (Bereshit).

Lamech is the first one to break the pattern of one wife (Gen. 4:19). Instead of going to himself (Lekh Lekha), Lamech "took to himself" two wives: Adah (ornament, something beautiful) and Tzillah (his shadow), inferring that both women were not treated equally. Tradition has it that one was for procreation and the other for pleasure.

You may recall that the Israelites were told to take off their ornaments (adi) for violating their covenant with Yahweh (Ex. 32–33). After the golden calf, they were pretty ugly. Adah had true beauty, ornamented with faithfulness to her husband. Tzillah was the preferred wife, who served Lamech's sexual desire and maintained her physical beauty for him alone. She stayed in his "shadow," preferred. She reflected Lamech's desires. It was a type of idolatry—"to himself"—not an elevation of the Beginning "to himself" in covenant faithfulness. We see Yahweh's heart on the matter when we compare Israel and the rejected wife (Mal. 2:13–16). When the first wife's childbearing years were over, or she became ruined in body from multiple births and hard work, some men went so far as to divorce them or simply send them away without support. He had married her to bear children and "build up his name" through male descendants, but she was simply the breeder. Malachi points out that this treachery is a spiritual problem. You cannot bring an offering to the altar with such wickedness as a garment. A marriage garment to the Holy One is faithfulness to His commandments. Isaiah makes reference back to the flood generation, reiterating the same point (Isa. 54:5–9), which explains His reason for destroying the earth and why, for the same reason, He will not destroy the earth again with water (Gen. 6:5; 8:21). Unlike the men of the Flood, the Lord uses the example as a temporary rejection based on Israel's faithless behavior. He will have compassion upon her again, for He does not want to reject Israel, the wife of His youth (Jer. 2:2).

This practice of a breeder and a pleasure wife is condemned in Judaism for very obvious reasons. The breeder craves affection, and the beauty craves children—we see this overtly with Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. Later, in Leviticus, we are given a commandment not to marry sisters (Lev. 18:18). Yet I believe it is more than the command not to marry sisters; it is about creating rivalries in marriage. Two are one. It is not just in marriage, but in friendship and family. His wife should never be put in a position of rivalry with his family or friends, competing for time and attention. The reason for this, as Isaiah prophesied, is a spiritual application of the Body of Messiah, when they will not be rivals anymore (Isa. 11:13). Together, Adah (the ornamented bride) and Tzillah (in the shadow of the Most High) will be one nation. One people. One covenant. It is combining wisdom (chokmah), your sister, and understanding (binah), your intimate friend (Prov. 7:4). The wife, partner, soul mate is both a mother and a lover!

Esau, the iconic "Red One" and hunter of Scripture—red and hairy like a beast—also took two wives without parental permission, creating tremendous heartache. Adah gave birth to Jabal (river, stream); he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock (Gen. 4:20), and his brother was Jubal (river, stream); he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe (Gen. 4:21). Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain (acquisition), the forger of all sharp, cutting implements of bronze and iron (Gen. 4:22). Rivers give life. Tent dwellers study peacefully. Shepherds guard sheep. Musicians make praise. Sharp instruments kill and destroy.

The pre-flood world was ultimately corrupted when the "sons of god" chose women based solely on their beauty. In contrast, Yahweh chooses out of love to bring out her beauty (Isa. 41:8). The two wives: one gives prosperity and a good name, while the other gives pleasure.

Jerusalem above, Paul writes, is the mother of us all and our love (Gal. 4:21–31). A good name where we find incredible pleasure is found in the same place. At Sinai, Israel lost her marriage ornaments. She did not have a love relationship with the One who gave the commandments. When commandments are only utilitarian, then we will twist or discard them when they do not serve our self-worship. When they are love, we are born from above—in His image, children of Sarah and Abraham.

Hence, the source of sin in the garden: God made the trees pleasant for the eyes and good for food, and the woman saw the trees good for food and pleasant for the eyes. When we get things backwards, everything falls apart.

Shalom!
Alan

www.lightintorah.org