GENEALOGY
Tips & Tricks
Levitical Degrees
The "levitical degrees" are degrees of kinship within which persons are prohibited to marry. The levitical degrees to one extent or another have been mentioned in most marriage laws. * They originated and are found in the first eighteen verses of the 18th chapter of the Book of Leviticus, from which they take their name.
Remember that at the time Moses (depicted above) received these commandments, it was the custom for a man to have several wives. The wording of these commandments was addressed to the men, but placed restrictions on both sexes. With today's knowledge of genetics, we understand why intermarriage with close kin has an increased risk (although not as much as once thought).
The Egyptian custom of sibling intermarriage, particularly in the nobility was familiar to the Israelites and pointedly forbidden by these commandments.
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* In Georgia, beginning in 1789, it became the duty of the Clerk of the Court of Ordinary in each Georgia county to grant marriage licenses. The license was addressed to any judge, Justice of the Inferior Court, Justice of the Peace, or Minister of the Gospel. The bride and groom had to be of lawful age, and authorized by the 'Levitical Degrees', before the license could be issued. An alternate way was by 'publication of banns of marriage' (published usually meant read in public) three times in some public place of worship and the reading certified by the minister. Should the official marry persons who lacked a license or publication of bands, he was fined $500. |
Levitical Degrees
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1. And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God.
3. According to the doings of the land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt, shall you not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein; I am the Lord your God.
5. Ye shall therefore keep ye statutes and my judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them. I am the Lord.
6. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. I am the Lord.
Intermarriage was thus forbidden as indicated by
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