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The OT contains a great deal of material relating to divorce ethics. Unfortunately, many of the relevant passages have generally been ignored by theologians reconstructing a Biblical ethic of divorce. This paper tries to ll the gap by emphasizing these neglected texts in the OT where divorce is either allowed—or, sometimes, even commanded—and where God’s estranged relationship with Israel is described by using divorce imagery. From these data I seek to formulate a systematized OT rationale for the cases that permit or command divorce within the concept of marriage as covenant. It will be observed that the OT permits divorce for a variety of fundamental violations of the marriage covenant. In addition I will attempt to show that the OT teaching on this topic is compatible with the NT teachings about divorce and that both together are required for a complete Biblical divorce ethic. Only such an approach, it will be claimed, avoids the Marcionite heresy by fully acknowledging the divine authority of the OT teaching on this subject. And only this view is practical in our current, fallen world. There is no question that OT law allows for divorce. What is less well recognized is that under some circumstances divorce is commanded by God. I will start with evidence that shows that OT law allowed divorce, and then I will go on to look at places where God commanded people to divorce.
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