Newly Weds

Are there laws concerning newly weds? Yes! There are a couple of things that God made a special note to ensure we remember for newly married couples.

Deuteronomy 24:5 KJVS

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

It is a law that when a man has taken on and married a woman that he shall not go out to war. In addition, to being charged with any business. But rather, he is to be at home on a “staycation” for a year. Why? Well, if that man dies in war, he died before getting to have any time to enjoy his wife. And the same is true vice versa. That man would have died before that woman really got to know him and enjoy him as her husband. And building relationships takes time and is an investment made over time. You don’t even really get to see the return on your investment if he (or you) die in war. Imagine you recently married and one week or one month later you as that man die or your husband if you are a woman, is now leaving you and will be gone for a year. That could be hard, let alone if they die in battle. Not everyone thinks like, “well, you can just remarry.” The point is I was married! And I wanted to enjoy a life, let alone a few seasons with the person I married. And now I will have to wait or I may never get that chance.

It also notes that he shall not be charged with any business, why? The “charged” part comes in when there are things that an official or leader may have them to do. These may be orders. However, if a man or woman is newly married it should be respected that these things are optional. Seen as something to do as you are able to according to your power and not mandated. As marriage is challenging, it isn’t always a cake walk. And one needs time to workout the issues; to iron out problems. True, you won’t solve all of your problems in a year but a year is the time The Most High God gave to man to be able to work out “synchronization” issues with your new situation and focus on home.

Deuteronomy 20:7 KJVS

And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

The law is still similar for one who is betrothed. If you are engaged and have yet to consummate your marriage, you can’t go out to war. You must go back home and wait until you marry at which point the law above takes over. You have a duty as an individual and the leaders as well, to make the people aware of these things and follow suit. Even at a betrothed or engaged level you put in time and work to build up to that point. Need it be a month or a year. And you should be able to reap the fruit of that labour. And a big part of that fruit is looking forward to when you can not only consummate but enjoy your time with this person and the fruits of marriage.

1 Maccabees 3:56 KJVA

But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law.