Biblical reasons for divorce, is deception a valid reason ?

[Unqualified]

Leah was the mother of multi patriarchs. Jacob was an honorable man after all that, he found Gods blessing. David had many wives he wasn’t condemned after Moses. David knew the spirit of the law. He didn’t get divorced.

 

[PeterDona]

After giving it a nights sleep, it has come to my mind that Joseph was the son who inherited the blessing. Joseph was the first son of Rachel

But thing is, the story was before Moses time, so before the 10 commandments was officially received from God, I dont know for sure, maybe marriage to many woman wasn't so a serious issue before Moses laws.

and my thinking on this question
I think polygamy was tolerated until the time of the new covenant.
Acts 17:26 "in times past God winked at sin, but now he commands men everywhere to repent"
Matthew 19:5 "they twain shall be one flesh" compare this to
Genesis 2:24 "they shall be one flesh"
I believe that the small addition of the word "twain" clears up what was until the time of Jesus unclear.

 

[Paidiske]

I wonder the laws of a country, I assume adultery and physical abuse are usually valid reasons to file for a divorce, I wonder if deception is a valid reason in the law ?

Depending on the kind of deception, it might be enough of a reason to have a marriage ruled to have been not legal. For example, if you lie about your identity, or in some cases at least, your age (if you are not old enough to marry under the laws of that country) your marriage might be ruled not to have been legally binding.

For most of Christian history, it has been considered that the free consent of both spouses makes a marriage. If one spouse is deceived, then they have not really given their free consent, and that would often be seen as grounds for annulment.

Whether God would agree, I am not sure, and it would probably depend on a lot of things which would vary from case to case.

 

[Hannah66]

So I wonder why doesn't God allow divorce when there is clear deception or lying ? I mean Jacob was deceived, he wasn't allowed to divorce Leah, in my opinion deception and lying should be a valid reason for divorce. If people know that deception is a valid reason for divorce, they would not lie or deceive and be honest from the beginning because they know sooner or later they will be divorced if the lie or deception is discovered.

22So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. 23But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24(Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)
25But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”

 

[Hannah66]

if the lying or deception has lead to adultery, then that is a basis for divorce.

 

[Greengardener]

Interesting discussion, everyone. I always found it odd, or oddly amusing, that Jacob didn't realize it wasn't Rachel until the next morning. Somehow I can't imagine Rachel found that to be comforting. Was it really THAT dark that night?

 

[Semper-Fi]

Jacobs entire family is filled with deception and lying.

Isaac should have known that Jacob was to receive the birth-
right blessing (Genesis 25:23). Isaac offered his firstborn
an inheritance he could not rightly give him. Isaac did not
include Rebekah in his plans for Esau.

Esau never valued his birthright and had sold it to his
brother. He neglected to tell his father he had done so.

Rebekah concocted a scheme to mislead Isaac into believing that
Jacob was Esau, taking advantage of her husband’s blindness

Jacob did not stop the plan. He said, I am Esau—a bald-faced lie.
Jacob feared getting caught and cursed for lying to Isaac.
Jacob was doubly entitled to the birthright, but lacked the
faith to let God work it out.

Yet, the lie worked. Jacob received the blessing.
But just look at the damage done by his deceit.

Isaac was emotionally crushed by Jacob’s actions.
Esau became so angry that he planned to assassinate
Jacob after Isaac died. Jacob had to flee for his life.
He never saw his mother again; she died before he returned.

Laban deceived him into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.
The woman he loved (Rachel) was barren. Laban practically
enslaving him for 14 years. God forced Jacob to wrestle with
Him all night to eventually receive the birthright blessing.

Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped. His beloved second wife,
Rachel, died in childbirth. His sons misled him to believe
that his favorite son, Joseph, was dead.

Jacob confessed to Pharaoh that his life had been very hard—
the few years he lived were filled with evil (Genesis 47:9).

We can only wonder what his life would have been like had he
waited for God. Jacob was not better off after his own lies and deceit.
-

"For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came
the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's