quoting Jesus on divorce applies if the ground for procuring the divorce is anything other than adultery committed by the unfaithful marriage partner.

God’s original standard restored

It is clear, therefore, that Jesus Christ’s statement pointed to a return to the high standard for marriage originally set by Jehovah God, and showed that those who would become Jesus’ disciples would have to adhere to that high standard. Though the concessions provided by the Mosaic law were still in effect and would be for a few more years, yet those who would be true disciples of Jesus, doing the will of his Father and ‘doing’ or putting into effect the sayings of Jesus (Matt. 7:21-29), would no longer avail themselves of such concessions to exercise “hardheartedness” toward their marriage mates. As genuine disciples, they would not violate the original divine principles governing marriage by divorcing their mates on any grounds other than the one Jesus specified, namely, adultery.

A single person who commits fornication with a prostitute makes himself “one body” with that person. Similarly, the adulterer makes himself “one body,” not with his legal wife, but with the immoral person with whom he has sexual relations. The adulterer thus sins against his own flesh, not only his own personal flesh, but also against his legal wife who until then has been “one flesh” with him. (1 Cor. 6:16-18) For that reason adultery provides a true basis for breaking the marital bond in accord with divine principles and, where such ground exists, a divorce obtained brings about the formal and final dissolution of the legal marriage union, freeing the innocent partner to remarry with honor.—Heb. 13:4.

FIGURATIVE DIVORCE

The marriage relationship is used symbolically in the Scriptures. (Isa. 54:1, 5, 6; 62:1-6) Reference is also made to symbolic divorcing, or the sending away of a wife.—Jer. 3:8.

The kingdom of Judah was overthrown and Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E., the inhabitants of the land being taken into Babylonian captivity. Years earlier Jehovah had said prophetically to Jews who would then be in exile: “Where, then, is the divorce certificate of the mother of you people, whom I sent away?” (Isa. 50:1) Their “mother” or national organization had been put away with just cause, not because Jehovah broke his covenant and started divorce proceedings, but due to her wrongdoing against the Law covenant. But a remnant of Israelites repented and prayed for a renewal of Jehovah’s husbandly relationship with them in their homeland. Jehovah, for his own name’s sake, restored his people to their homeland as promised, in 537 B.C.E., at the end of the seventy-year desolation.—Ps. 137:1-9; see MARRIAGE.

DIZAHAB

(Diʹza·hab) [possibly, place of gold].

A site, E of the Jordan River, where Israel was camped at the time Moses delivered his farewell address. Although various suggestions have been offered, its exact location is unknown today.—Deut. 1:1.

DODAI

See DODO No. 2.

DODANIM

(Doʹda·nim).

At Genesis 10:4 this name appears as the fourth-listed son of Javan. The Septuagint Version and the Samaritan Pentateuch here read “Rodanim.” “Rodanim” is also found in the Hebrew Masoretic text at 1 Chronicles 1:7, although a number of Hebrew manuscripts, and also the Latin Vulgate, there read “Dodanim.”—See RODANIM.

DODAVAHU

(Dod·avʹa·hu) [beloved of Jah].

A man from Maresha whose son Eliezer prophesied disaster for the ships of Jehoshaphat that were built in partnership with wicked King Ahaziah of Israel.—2 Chron. 20:36, 37.

DODO

(Doʹdo) [his beloved].

1. An ancestor, probably the grandfather, of Judge Tola of the tribe of Issachar.—Judg. 10:1.

2. A descendant of Benjamin through Ahohi. Dodo’s son Eleazar was one of David’s three mighty men. (2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chron. 11:12) Dodai (an alternate form of Dodo) served, perhaps in a representative sense through his son Eleazar, as chief of the army division of the second month.—1 Chron. 27:4.

3. A resident of Bethlehem whose son Elhanan was one of David’s mighty men.—2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chron. 11:26.

DOEG

(Doʹeg) [anxious].

An Edomite serving as King Saul’s principal shepherd, a responsible position of oversight. (1 Sam. 21:7; 22:9) Doeg evidently was a proselyte. Because of being “detained before Jehovah” at Nob, possibly on account of a vow, some uncleanness or suspected leprosy, Doeg witnessed High Priest Ahimelech’s providing David with showbread and the sword of Goliath. Later, when Saul, in addressing his servants, voiced the opinion that they were conspiring against him, Doeg revealed what he had seen at Nob. After summoning the high priest as well as the other priests of Nob and then questioning Ahimelech, Saul ordered the runners to put the priests to death. When these refused, Doeg, at Saul’s command, unhesitatingly killed a total of eighty-five priests. After this wicked act, Doeg devoted Nob to destruction, slaughtering all its inhabitants, both young and old, as well as the livestock.—1 Sam. 22:6-20.

As indicated by the superscription of Psalm 52, David wrote concerning Doeg: “Adversities your tongue schemes up, sharpened like a razor, working deceitfully. You have loved what is bad more than what is good, falsehood more than speaking righteousness. You have loved all devouring words, O you deceitful tongue.”—Ps. 52:2-4.

DOG

To the Israelites this animal was ceremonially unclean, and it is therefore unlikely that they gave any thought to the training of dogs. (Lev. 11:27; Isa. 66:3) Although sheep and shepherds are often mentioned in the Bible, only Job, a non-Israelite, speaks of “the dogs of my flock.”—Job 30:1.

Dogs, like carrion birds, were scavengers, particularly in the cities. The Law directed throwing to the dogs flesh that had been torn by a wild beast. (Ex. 22:31) At times Jehovah’s judgment against his enemies was that their dead bodies would be eaten or their blood licked up by scavenger dogs. Because of the course of gross unfaithfulness followed by Kings Jeroboam, Baasha and Ahab, any belonging to their respective households dying in the city were to be devoured by dogs. (1 Ki. 14:11; 16:4; 21:24) In fulfillment of Jehovah’s word, the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, and the flesh of his wife Jezebel became food for the dogs. (1 Ki. 21:19; 22:38; 21:23; 2 Ki. 9:10, 35, 36) Indicating that dogs would lick up the blood of the foes of Jehovah’s people, the psalmist wrote: “That the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from the enemies.” (Ps. 68:23) Dogs were foretold to share in the ruin that would come upon unfaithful Jerusalem and Judah. Dead bodies the dogs would drag away, mutilating, devouring and licking up blood.—Jer. 15:3.

ILLUSTRATIVE USE

The dog’s filthy habit of disgorging food it has gulped down and then returning to eat it again later is used to illustrate the course of those abandoning the way of righteousness and returning to their former state of defilement. (2 Pet. 2:20-22; Prov. 26:11) Morally unclean persons are called dogs. God’s law to Israel stated: “You must not bring the hire of a harlot or the price of a dog [“male prostitute,” AT; “‘pederast,’ likely,” NW, 1953 ed., ftn.] into the house of Jehovah your God for any vow, because they are something detestable to Jehovah your God, even both