Page 177 - BAMIDBAR

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bamidbar

Chazal relate that Bnei Yisrael bewailed the prohibition of illicit # 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 6 - A | 18-08-19 | 13:48:23 | SR:-- | Black 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS -
relationships. We find that our ancestors, who kept the entire Torah even
before it was given, married their close relatives. What, then, is the reason
for this prohibition?

In the times of the Avot, the main thrust of the Yetzer Hara was on avodah
zarah. Our Avot were completely detached from all forms of immorality.
Avraham was unaware of Sarah’s beauty until they went down to Egypt,
and Lavan succeeded in swindling Yaakov into marrying Leah without
Yaakov’s knowledge. There was no need for a prohibition against
marrying relatives.

Nowadays, the thrust of the Yetzer Hara is in the area of immorality. One
should be as vigilant as possible in this area.

“Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe
regarding the Cushite woman he had married,
for he had married a Cushite woman”
(Bamidbar 12:1)