A Hated Marriage

The Talmud in Masechet Yevamot has a unique interpretation to the case in the Torah, regarding the two wives, where one is loved and one is hated. Instead of the simple interpretation that the husband prefers one wife after the other, and he must still give first born rights to the son of the less loved wife, there is another way of looking at things.

The Gemara asks how could it be possible in G-d’s eyes, that one wife could be loved, and the other one hated. It refers to a situation where the marriage itself is hated, because it involves marriage to someone forbidden.

This could apply to a case where a Kohein married a divorced woman or a convert. There is a category called, איסור לאו, where the marriage is binding and it involves violating a negative commandment. The offspring of such a union, is called a Challal, and he loses his rights to serve as a Kohein.

The Beit Din will urge the couple in such a marriage to get a divorce as soon as possible. This is why the “loved wife,” would be married to someone completely permitted. The “hated wife” is involved in a marriage that violates Torah law.

We see how important the sanctity of marriage must be, without blemishes.

This also explains the reason why a couple who committed adultery, are not permitted to marry. They can never make holy, a relationship that began with such a severe violation of the Torah. All marriages must be marriages that are “loved” by Hashem.