Did Abraham Really Marry His Sister?The short answer is no, Abraham did not really marry his sister. I think the explanation for this is interesting. I hope you will find it enlightening. Here is the quote from Genesis 11:29. Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. Let's take a look at two verses dealing with Abram and Lot. Gen 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. Gen 14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. Did you notice that in Genesis 14:12 Lot is called Abram's brother's son or his nephew, as we would say today, and then in Genesis 14:16 Lot is called Abram's brother. So one might suggest that in Abram's day the word brother could be understood to also include newphews. Let me suggest that the same is true for the word sister. I have learned that in the Hebrew language a noun can be singular or plural based on the context. Strong's says that the Hebrew word for daughter is bath, 1323. If you do an Englishman's search for this word you will see that quite a number of the instances are translated as daughters and also some are daughter. So now here is Genesis 11:29 with the word daughters instead of the singular daughter. Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughters of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. Interesting! So now let's get a second source for this idea. The Book of Jasher, while not inspired, is mentioned twice in scripture that we should look at it. So here is what it says. Jasher 12:44 And at that time Nahor and Abram took unto themselves wives, the daughters of their brother Haran; the wife of Nahor was Milca and the name of Abram's wife was Sarai. And Sarai, wife of Abram, was barren; she had no offspring in those days. Haran had just died before they took his daughters as wives. Abram then also took upon himself the care of his newphew Lot. Also according to Jasher Abram spent a number of years living in the house of Shem being taught the law of God. So Abraham knew God's law very well and would have known it was improper for him to marry his sister. Sarah was actually Abraham's niece. Leviticus 18 does not prohibit the marriage of a man and his niece. |
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