Question Regarding Polygamy and Adultery

[Obsidian]

If a married man slept with an unmarried woman in the OT, was that considered adultery, and thus a capital offense? Should it have been? I have been wondering a good bit about this lately.

[37818]

If a married man slept with an unmarried woman in the OT, was that considered adultery, and thus a capital offense? Should it have been? I have been wondering a good bit about this lately.

It was adultry if the woman was promised in marriage or was married. In which case both the man and the woman would be put to death according to the law. If the woman was not promised in marriage the man would be required to marry her (unless her father forbade it). And the man would be forbidden to ever divorce the woman he took before marriage.

[apostoli]

If a married man slept with an unmarried woman in the OT, was that considered adultery, and thus a capital offense? Should it have been? I have been wondering a good bit about this lately.

In the OT it was almost impossible for a man to be accused of adultery. The exception, as 37818 pointed out is if the woman was married or betrothed, and the reason for this is the woman was bound under a covenant/contract. Consider Abraham's involvement with Hagar, he had sex with her (albeit for the purpose of pro-creation) though married to Sarah...

Here is an article that covers the subject - worth a read...
http://www.truthortradition.com/modu...rticle&sid=153
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For me you raised another question: Was prostitution/harlotry sanctioned in OT times?

The following article may indicate there was at least tolerance...if not outright acceptance...
http://www.holisticpolitics.org/LawO...y/Harlotry.php