Exodus 21:4

That being a true rule, and approved both by Scripture and by heathen authors, that the birth follows the belly, Genesis 21:10 Galatians 4:24,25; and he that owns the tree hath right to all its fruit. Quest. How was this separation of man and wife agreeable with the first institution of marriage, by which that bond is made indissoluble? Answ.

1. That bond was not necessarily dissolved by this law, both because the separation was at the man's choice, who might have staid there if he so pleased; and because the distinction of their habitations might consist with the right and use of matrimony, which the master also would probably permit for his own advantage. Answ.

2. God might here, as well as in the case of divorces, dispense with his own laws and institutions, especially in this case, where he might design this for a punishment to the man for marrying a stranger, which was not pleasing to God, as appears from Deuteronomy 21:11 Ezra 10:2 Nehemiah 13:23. And that this woman was a stranger, and not a Hebrewess, is manifest, because then she also must have gone out free, Exo 21 7-9 Deu 15:12.