2 Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 10/1-2 (1999): 2—22. Article copyright ' 2000 by Richard M. Davidson. Divorce and Remarriage in the Old Testament: A Fresh Look at Deuteronomy 24:1—4 Richard M. Davidson S.D.A. Theological Seminary, Andrews University The wide range of OT passages related to the issues of divorce and remar- riage includes at least six different Hebrew expressions referring to divorce oc- curring altogether some 27 times, 1 plus several references to remarriage. 2 Within the space constraints of this article I limit myself to the most seminal passage dealing with divorce and remarriage, Deut 24:1—4. I have found this passage to contain far-reaching implications for understanding NT passages on the subject and for properly recognizing the hermeneutical relationship between OT and NT divorce/remarriage legislation. In this fresh look at Deut 24:1—4 I will argue that crucial grammatical-syntactical and intertextual features of the legislation have been largely overlooked in previous studies of the passage, and that these features provides keys for understanding the continuity between the Testaments with regard to the subject of marriage and divorce. I. Historical Background and Literary Context The book of Deuteronomy encompasses Moses farewell sermon to Israel, given about 1410 B.C. on the borders of Canaan just before Moses death and Israels entrance into the promised land. The address is framed in the overall 1 The Hebrew terms and their occurrences are as follows:(1) l» to send away, divorce, all in Piel: Gen 21:14; Deut 21:14; 22:19, 29; 24:1, 3, 4; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:1, 8; Mal 2:16. (2) gr to drive out, cast/thrust out, banish, divorce, Piel: Gen 21:10; Qal passive: Lev 21:7, 14; 22:13; Num 30:10 [Eng. 9]; Ezek 44:22. (3) [s“per] k e rtt, [document] of cutting off or divorce: Deut 24:1, 3; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:8. (4) y to cause to go out = divorce (Hifil): Ezra 10:3, 19. (5) bdl to separate oneself = divorce, Nifal, Ezra 10:11. (6) bgd to deal treacherously with, break faith with = divorce, Qal, Mal 2:14, 15, 16. 2 See, e.g., Gen 25:1; Deut 24:1—4; 1 Sam 25:44; and perhaps Isa 7:14; 8:3.