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The learned Jesuit, Cornelius a Lapide (died 1637), on Leviticus xviii. 18, says:—"Nec revelabis turpitudinem ejus, adhuc illâ vivente, quia illâ mortuâ potes accipere uxoris tuæ sororem in conjugem. Hoc enim lege veteri licuit, sed in novâ jam non licet." Concil. Trident., sess. xxiv.[1]
The learned and judicious Protestant, Diodati, preferred the same rendering:—" Non prendere etiandio una donna insieme con la sua sorella per affliger-la, scoprendo la nudità della sua sorella che tu havresti presa oltre a lei, in vita sua."
Another learned Romanist, Bonfrere (died 1643), speaking of the prohibition to take two sisters together, says:—"Nec hoc jam naturæ est, habuit enim Jacob duas sorores simul conjuges .... conceditur tamen ut priore mortuâ alteram ducat."[2]
So Tirinus (whose "Commentary" was published at Antwerp, 1632):—"Vetatur conjugium cum sorore uxoris adhuc viventis. Id ante hanc legem licuisse patet ex Jacobi exemplo, Gen. xxix., qui duas sorores Liam et Rachelem simul habuit. Mortuâ uxore, licebat sororem illius ducere."[3]
- ↑ "Thou shalt not reveal her shame whilst the former is still alive, because, when she is dead, thou mayest take thy wife's sister for a wife. According to the old law, this was lawful, but now, in the new, it is not lawful." Council of Trent, sess. xxiv.
- ↑ "Neither is this founded in nature, for Jacob had two sisters wives at the same time .... it is allowed, however, when the first is dead to take the other."
- ↑ "Forbidden is marriage with the sister of the wife whilst she is still living. Before this law it is clear that it was lawful, according to the example of Jacob (Gen. xxix.), who had two sisters—Leah and Rachel—at the same time. When the wife was dead, it was lawful to marry her sister."
forbidden for any one to marry both sisters with the equal right of superior wives, or concubines. Finally, in no way to have carnal communion with two sisters who are both living. Wherefore it is indicated that the sister of a deceased wife may be taken as a wife."
