Conservative theologians believe Moses wrote the Pentateuch,
or at least someone wrote his words down in these first five books of the
Bible. This means Genesis had the same author as Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. Therefore, whatever is written in these books came from the
same human being, Moses, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit (see I Timothy
3:16).
This means Moses wrote both about the sons of Adam and Eve, and also
about the law contained in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. What was written?
Specifically, “Cain knew his wife…” (Genesis 4:17), and “Seth…fathered Enosh…
(Genesis 5:6). Cain and Seth were the sons of Adam and Eve. Who were the women
they married if Adam and Eve were the first and only human beings created? I
was taught these men each married one of their sisters, respectively.
Yet, Moses also wrote the following about marrying one’s
sister:
Leviticus 18:9 – 11 “You shall not
uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's
daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. You shall not
uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter,
for their nakedness is your own nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness
of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she
is your sister.”
Again,
Leviticus 20:17 “If a man takes
his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her
nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut
off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's
nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.
“
“
And finally,
Deuteronomy 27:22 “‘Cursed be
anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the
daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”
Now, I was taught that brothers and sisters marrying was ok
until human DNA was corrupted, and then it was prohibited. Notice, however, that
the same author who wrote about Cain and Seth being married did not indicate
that each man married his sister. This is adding something to scripture that is
not implied. Rather, the same author made it clear sexual relations between a
brother and sister was prohibited. Likewise, nothing is mentioned about a
brother’s and sister’s offspring bearing the iniquity. Review the above
scriptures and you will see that the man who commits this act bears the
iniquity. Nothing is mentioned about the children being cursed.
Also, nothing is mentioned in these passages that while men
at one time could marry their respective sisters, now God is prohibiting such
practices. Indeed, Leviticus chapter 18:1-6 begins as follows:
“And the LORD spoke to Moses,
saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God.
You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you
shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You
shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my
statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my
statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the
LORD.
“None of you shall approach any one
of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD.”
From this passage we see that marriage between brothers and
sisters had been ongoing in the lands around Israel. From the sense of these
passages, God always prohibited this act.
So, who was the woman Seth married? She cannot be Seth’s
sister because Moses, the author of Genesis, noted in Leviticus and Deuteronomy
that this was prohibited. We do know that God created her. Likewise, I do
not conclude that Genesis contradicts Leviticus and Deuteronomy, as is implied
by some theologians and clergy.
Rather, these must have been other people created by God, as
were Adam and Eve, for Moses wrote,
“Then God said, “Let us make
man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and
over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
“So God created man in his own
image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
- Genesis 1:26-27
God creating “them” may have a plural meaning going
beyond one man and one woman. Clearly, to claim that God later changed his mind
about brothers and sisters marrying goes against the clear intent of scripture,
and is reading into scripture words and meaning that are not there. Clearly,
Adam and Eve are real people, as were Seth and his wife. Clearly, God
is the Creator.
Much more could be written, but that is enough to think
about for now. May the Holy Spirit guide our understanding of scripture.
(Scripture passages, above, are quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Good News
Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition).
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