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"We are studying Elohim and we are now on a question that asks, 'Why does God tell His chosen people not to be yoked with, or married to, anyone who does not believe and worship Elohim?'"-

This is a good question and one that Christians often seem to think doesn't REALLY apply to them literally.  Throughout Old Testament law, and in God's direct dealings with His people in the Old Testament, God specifically warned against His people marrying those of other nations.

Just one example of how strongly God expressed His views on this issue in the Old Testament is found in Malachi 2:11-12:-

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

This raises a couple of additional questions.  One, why would God be so harsh about Jews marrying people from other races?  Where do obviously God-blessed "unequal" marriages such as Ruth and Boaz or Rahab and Salmon fit into this picture?  After considering these questions, there is still the question of whether this applies to believers today.

Our first question is why God would be so harsh about Jews marrying people from other races.  Actually, the answer to this first question also incidentally answers our second question.

The answer to this question is found partially within the Malachi passage above.  The issue was never one of racial purity.  The issue was one of spiritual authority.  Malachi says, "...and hath married the daughter of a strange god."  In the unusual cases, such as Ruth and Rahab, these women were not actually "daughters of a strange god" because they made a very definitive choice to follow Jehovah.  Old Testament law has a clearly outlined process for the conversion of non-Jews to Judaism.

Throughout the Old Testament there is testimony to the profound negative effects caused by God's people marrying "daughters of a strange god."  I think the most profound and dramatic example of this is King Solomon.  God specifically warned him against accumulating both horses and wives.  Solomon did both.  Solomon married or formed a sexual attachment with about 1000 women -- many of whom were NOT Jewish.  I'm sure he justified his disobedience as political expedience; forming alliances with other nations and "bringing peace" to his country with these unions.  But, as God knew would happen, the spiritual pollution that resulted had a profound impact -- not only on Solomon, but on the subsequent history of Israel.  The leadership of Israel after Solomon was never again stable.  There is a clearly stated Scriptural reason for this, which we will look at more closely as we answer the third question.

Our third question is whether or not this prohibition against being "unequally yoked" applies to believers.  The answer is, yes, as shown in

II Cor. 6:14-18:-
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? -

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?-

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.-

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,-

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.-

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