SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:31
Tambin fue dicho: Cualquiera que repudiare a su mujer, dle carta de divorcio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:31
Verse 31. Whosoever shall put away his wife] The Jewish doctors gave great license in the matter of divorce. Among them, a man might divorce his wife if she displeased him even in the dressing of his victuals! Rabbi Akiba said, "If any man saw a woman handsomer than his own wife, he might put his wife away; because it is said in the law, If she find not favour in his eyes." Deut. xxiv. 1. Josephus, the celebrated Jewish historian, in his Life, tells us, with the utmost coolness and indifference, "About this time I put away my wife, who had borne me three children, not being pleased with her manners." These two cases are sufficient to show to what a scandalous and criminal excess this matter was carried among the Jews. However, it was allowed by the school of Shammai, that no man was to put away his wife unless for adultery. The school of Hillel gave much greater license.
A writing of divorcement] The following is the common form of such a writing. See Maimonides and Lightfoot.
"On the day of the week A. in the month B. in the year C. from the beginning of the world, according to the common computation in the province of D., I, N. the son of N. by whatever name I am called, of the city E. with entire consent of mind, and without any compulsion, have divorced, dismissed, and expelled thee-thee, I say, M. the daughter of M. by whatever name thou art called, of the city E. who wast heretofore my wife: but now I have dismissed thee-thee, I say, M. the daughter of M. by whatever name thou art called, of the city E. so as to be free, and at thine own disposal, to marry whomsoever thou pleasest, without hinderance from any one, from this day for ever. Thou art therefore free for any man.
Let this be thy bill of divorce from me, a writing of separation and expulsion, according to the law of Moses and Israel.
REUBEN, son of Jacob, Witness.
ELIEZAR, son of Gilead, Witness." God permitted this evil to prevent a greater; and, perhaps, to typify his repudiating the Jews, who were his first spouse.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. It hath been said , etc.] It is not added here, as in the former instances, by them of old time; nor prefaced with these words, ye have heard; because the case of divorce was not any law of Moses, or of God by him; but only a permission, because of the hardness of the hearts of the Jews: and as to the controversy, about the causes of divorce, this was not debated by them of old time, but was a new thing, just started in the time of Christ; and was a controversy then agitating, between the schools of Hillell and Shammai: the one allowing it upon any frivolous cause; the other, only on account of adultery. Whosoever shall put away his wife , dissolve the marriage bond, dismiss her from his bed, and send her from his house, (see Deuteronomy 24:1,2) let him give her a writing of divorcement, ttyrk rps , a bill of divorcement, or a book of cutting off. For though a wife was obtained by several ways, there was but one way of dismissing her, as the Jews observe f320 , and that was, by giving her a bill. The form of a writing of divorcement, as given by Maimonides f321 , is as follows: On such a day of the week, in such a month, of such a year, either from the creation, or the epocha of contracts, according to the usual way of computation, which we observe in such a place; I such an one, the son of such an one, of such a place; or if I have any other name, or surname, or my parents, or my place, or the place of my parents; by my own will, without any force, I put away, dismiss, and divorce thee. Thee, I say, who art such an one, the daughter of such an one, of such a place; or if thou hast any other name, or surname, or thy parents, or thy place, or the place of thy parents; who wast my wife heretofore, but now I put thee away, dismiss and divorce thee; so that thou art in thine own hand, and hast power over thyself, to go, and marry any other man, whom thou pleasest; and let no man hinder thee in my name, from this day forward and for ever; and lo! thou art free to any man: and let this be unto thee, from me, a bill of divorce, an instrument of dismission, and a letter of forsaking, according to the law of Moses and Israel. Such an one, the son of such an one, witness. Such an one, the son of such an one, witness.
Would you choose to have one of these bills, filled up in proper form, take it in manner following. On the fourth day of the week, on the eleventh day of the month Cisleu, in the year five thousand four hundred and fifty four, from the creation of the world; according to the computation which we follow here, in the city of Amsterdam, which is called Amstelredam; situated by the sea side, called Taya, and by the river Amstel; I Abraham, the son of Benjamin, surnamed Wolphius, the priest; and at this time dwelling in the city of Amsterdam, which is called Amstelredam, which is situated by the sea side, called Taya, and by the river Amstel; or if I have any other name, or surname, or my parents, or my place, or the place of my parents; by my own free will, without any compulsion, I put away, dismiss, and divorce thee, my wife Rebecca, the daughter of Jonas the Levite; who at this time abides in the city of Amsterdam, called Amstelredam, situated by the sea side, called Taya, and by the river Amstel; or if thou hast any other name, or surname, or thy parents, or thy place, or the place of thy parents, who wast heretofore my wife; but now I put thee away, dismiss, and divorce thee; so that thou art in thine own hands, and hast power over thyself, to go and marry any other man, whom thou pleasest: and let no man hinder thee in my name, from this day forward, and for ever; and lo! thou art free to any man. Let this be to thee, from me, a bill of divorce, an instrument of dismission, and a letter of forsaking, according to the law of Moses and Israel. Sealtiel, the son of Paltiel, witness. Calonymus, the son of Gabriel, witness.
This bill being written in twelve lines, neither more nor less, and being sealed by the husband, and signed by the witnesses, was delivered, either by him, or by a messenger, or deputy of his or hers, into her hand, lap, or bosom, in the presence of two persons; after which, she might, if she would, enrol it in the public records, and marry whom she pleased.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 27-32 - Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painfu exertions. But it must be done. Every thing is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression. Those who lead others int temptation to sin, by dress or in other ways, or leave them in it, or expose them to it, make themselves guilty of their sin, and will be accountable for it. If painful operations are submitted to, that ou lives may be saved, what ought our minds to shrink from, when the salvation of our souls is concerned? There is tender mercy under all the Divine requirements, and the grace and consolations of the Spiri will enable us to attend to them.
Greek Textus Receptus
ερρεθη 4483 5681 V-API-3S δε 1161 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ ος 3739 R-NSM αν 302 PRT απολυση 630 5661 V-AAS-3S την 3588 T-ASF γυναικα 1135 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM δοτω 1325 5628 V-2AAM-3S αυτη 846 P-DSF αποστασιον 647 N-ASN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:31 {A writing of divorcement} (apostasion), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of biblion apostasiou (#Ma 19:7; Mr 10:4). Vulgate has here _libellum repudii_. The papyri use suggraph apostasiou in commercial transactions as "a bond of release" (see Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_, etc.) The written notice (biblion) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it.
