Relationship between Spouses

The Israelites predominately practiced endogamous marriages, often between paternal parallel cousins. This “father’s-brother’s-daughter” form of marriage aimed to keep daughters and property within the narrowest limits of the family (Altuntek, “Bone and Flesh,” 59). All paternal cousins were viable candidates for marriage. Maternal parallel cousins (or “cross-cousins”) were also acceptable, but not preferable. In ancient Israel, a cousin was essentially any relative who was not a member of one’s natal family.

Leviticus 18 and 20 outline family members one cannot marry (or have sexual relations with). The list includes both blood relatives between whom sex would be improper, and relations where one would be infringing on the procreative rites of another (Raccah, Widows at the Gates, 18–22; Goody, Comparative Studies in Kinship, 64–81). This list does not specify that relations with one’s own daughter are forbidden. It is possible to assume that a daughter was also “off limits,” but because her procreative potential belonged to her father, the law could not legislate against her father “taking” her.