Male virginity in the OT

[Reformed_Rob]

I have often thought back and wondered…why are the most explicit references in the OT about not having premarital sex directed towards women?

For instance, there is (to my knowledge) no equivalent text for how to punish a guy if his wife finds out he is not a virgin when they get married. I’m speaking in reference to Deuteronomy 22:13-22.

Of course in that context, the next verses deal with what to do if a man rapes a woman. But I’m curious, where are the more explicit texts that deal with “saving sex for marriage.” It all seems to be set in judicial terms.

Is it something that was oral tradition? Did they have people going around like Jason Evert and Christopher West telling people that they need to save their virginity until they get married?

What would they say “Girls, you know you’ll get stoned if you aren’t a virgin when you marry, and you guys know you will get stoned if you rape a girl. Or at the very least, you’ll be forced to marry her. Think about that for a minute, wow! But you should realize, there’s something deeper here than just avoiding getting stoned…!”

I’m not doubting the value of chastity for all people, in all times. I’m just asking about how it would be viewed in OT times. Would we have to go to ancient Jewish writings to find out?

 

[ryanoneil]

This OT Scripture is a little off topic but they were the only ones I could find.

Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God’s covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.

Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.

One thing to remember is that the law in Deuteronomy is given by Moses and not God. That’s a big difference between the Law given at Sinai, which is presented as God’s own words, delivered by God directly. Deuteronomy is the law of Moses, and as Jesus will explain, it is a law for hardhearted people (see Matthew 19:8).

Moses knows the people can’t possibly be expected to live up to the law of Sinai, let alone the standards of holiness set forth for the Levites. Deuteronomy is a law for wayward children. That explains why in Deuteronomy, Moses grants permissions found nowhere else in the Bible, permissions that seem totally at odds with the covenant at Sinai.

I think this says alot. We needed the New Covenant Jesus gave us. We needed Him to fix our thinking.

Peace,

Ryan

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Leviticus 20:10

"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22

"If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Remember John 8? the woman caught in adultery? I wonder if Jesus was writting the names of those who sleep with her in the sand.

Proverbs 5

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave. [a]

6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you give your best strength to others
and your years to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich another man’s house.

11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.

Proverbs 7

5 they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

6 At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.

7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.

8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house

9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11 (She is loud and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;

12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)

13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:

14 "I have fellowship offerings [a] at home;
today I fulfilled my vows.

15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!

16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18 Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.

20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon."

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer ** stepping into a noose [c]

23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.

25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.

26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is a highway to the grave, [d]
leading down to the chambers of death.

Psalm 24:4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 73:1
BOOK III : Psalms 73-89 ] A psalm of Asaph.Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalm 73:13
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?

Proverbs 22:11
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.**