Jewish folks! How was a child born out of wedlock viewed by ancient Jews?

Question

Is the way they were viewed in ancient Israel still the way they are viewed today? Were they considered "legitimate" sons and daughters with all the rights of legitimate children? Thank you for your help!

Answer 1

A child born out of wedlock had no stigma attached to them. They had full inheritance rights and were considered the full sons of their fathers in terms of tribal affiliation, affiliation to family etc. So much so that if they were the eldest and thus allowed the double portion of inheritance as the bechor- they inherited as bechor regardless of whether there were other sons from a wife.

The only children with any stigma and laws against them were mamzerim- the children from incest or adultery.

Note: To the person saying the only sin they had is the one form Adam- There is NO original sin in Judaism. People are born innocent and sin free- even a mamzer is not born in sin, but their ancestry is such as to prescribe them form certain actions- though they themselves are pure as children and can be as righteous as anyone else!

Edit: L'Chaim- a mamzer was NOT in cherem- they just couldn't marry into the general congregation. Unlike a person in cherem they could be members of a community, though they could not lead prayer or say blessing son the behalf of others, they coudl conduct business normally etc. Nor dod they have to observe the laws of aveilut (mourning) which is expected of someone in cherem.

Answer 2

There are no illigitimate children in Judaism. The couple is married after having sexual relations. The wife is given full rights as a wife, and also the right for divorce with all those rights delineated by Jewish law.

That cannot work in the Christian culture because the laws have been negated. Sorry folks, sometimes "love your neighbor" isn't adequate.

The law of the nation always trumps Jewish law, unless it is intolerable. Jews work to change laws legally when they cannot be tolerated.

Allonyoav mentions a mamzer. That is a child born of a forbidden relationship, adultery, etc. They are excommunicated which means they cannot have any contact with the Jewish community, nor marry any other Jew except another mamzer. In Biblical days, it would have been devastating to have been excommunicated.
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Answer 3

Sorry I'm not Jewish, but a Roman Catholic. But I've researched a similar question and maybe this can help.

The Romans had a reputation for rape. To the victor go the spoils and the Romans tended to turn their captive women into sex slaves or unwilling wives.

After the sack of Jerusalem in 64 A.D. by the Roman Legions, there were a lot of births of unknown parentage. Instead of commiting infantcide in the case of rape or unknown parentage, the Rabbis in their infinite sagacity declared that the religion of the mother would determine the religion of the child, thus all children born of Jewish women are Jewish. Some claim this was the beginning of the matralineal tradition within the Jewish faith.

Answer 4

According to the following websites, illegitimate jewish children should bear no stigma.

I don't believe either the child or the parents should be looked down on in any faith or culture, rather the culture could embrace the family without embracing the choice.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264510,00.html
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/marriage.html

Answer 5

If the father was Jewish he was bound to take the unmarried woman as a wife. Men were allow more that one wife. If a child was the result of an "illicit union" the child was barred from the temple. I imagine that the meaning of "illicit" was open to interpretation and changed over time.


Those born of an illicit union shall not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.
(Deut. 23:2)

Answer 6

expensive different than this above citation what else you recognize roughly Mutah Marriage???? you recognize situations of Mutah? you recognize rulings & needed acts of mutah? what do you think of roughly Zina??? have you ever condemn Zina like mutah in our societies, it particularly is off music better than mutah now a days in each and every muslims society? have you ever comdemn paper marriages in western societies?Do you compromise that interior of a society there are continuously some people who can't arise with the money for everlasting marriage the two financially or different reason? particularly one among author has quoted properly that your objective is to create fitna & shake already crippled muslims team spirit.There are lot of situations , pre-specifications & rulings for a single Mutah to ensue. could all your efforts be in the direction of peace & team spirit. Amen

Answer 7

The child's only sin is the one they inherited from Adam and Eve. The parents should be the one's looked down upon. though the child might get caught up in it.

Answer 8

They are not looked down on or referred to as bastards.