Years ago, in my seminary ethics course, my professor delved into foundational biblical grounds for divorce. He noted that the specific grounds for divorce, clearly taught in Scripture, are adultery and desertion. But he went on to explain that the biblical foundation of those two grounds is that they are a “radical breach of the marriage covenant.” A “radical breach” is not some disagreements or “we have just grown apart.” When there has been a great betrayal by the spouse such as an adulterous relationship or a pattern of failure to love and care for one's spouse (Exodus 21:7-11), the marriage covenant has been radically broken and God, in His mercy, says the offended spouse may make the radically broken covenant legal through divorce.