Marriage

Divinely instituted Ge 2:24

A covenant relationship Mal 2:4

DESIGNED FOR

• The happiness of man Ge 2:18
• Increasing the human population Ge 1:28; 9:1
• Raising up godly seed Mal 2:15
• Preventing fornication 1Co 7:2

The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early ageGe 3:15; 4:1

Lawful in all 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14

Honourable for all Heb 13:4

Should be only in the Lord 1Co 7:39

EXPRESSED BY

• Joining together Mt 19:6
• Making affinity 1Ki 3:1
• Taking to wife Ex 2:1
• Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters De 7:3; Ezr 9:12

Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties Mt 19:6; Ro 7:2,3; 1Co 7:39

Early introduction of polygamy Ge 4:19

Contracted in patriarchal age with near relations Ge 20:12; 24:24; 28:2

Often contracted by parents for children Ge 24:49-51; 34:6,8

Should be with consent of parents Ge 28:8; Jud 14:2,3

Consent of the parties necessary to Ge 24:57,58; 1Sa 18:20; 25:41

Parents might refuse to give their children in Ex 22:17; De 7:3

THE JEWS

• Forbidden to contract, with their near relations Le 18:6
• Forbidden to contract with idolaters De 7:3,4; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:11,12
• Often contracted with foreigners 1Ki 11:1; Ne 13:23
• Sometimes guilty of polygamy 1Ki 11:1,3
• Careful in contracting for their children Ge 24:2,3; 28:1,2
• Betrothed themselves some time before De 20:7; Jud 14:5,7,8; Mt 1:18
• Contracted when young Pr 2:17; Joe 1:8
• Often contracted, in their own tribe Ex 2:1; Nu 36:6-13; Lu 1:5,27
• Obliged to contract with a brother's wife who died without seedDe 25:5; Mt 22:24
• Considered being debarred from, a reproach Isa 4:1
• Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief Jud 11:38
• Often punished by being debarred from Jer 7:34; 16:9; 25:10
• Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their heartsDe 24:1; Mt 19:7,8
• Exempted from going to war immediately after De 20:7

Priest not to contract, with divorced or improper persons Le 21:7

The high priest not to contract, with a widow or a divorced or profane personLe 21:14

Contracted at the gate and before witnesses Ru 4:1,10,11

Modes of demanding women in Ge 24:3,4; 34:6,8; 1Sa 25:39,40

Elder daughters usually given in, before the younger Ge 29:26

A dowry given to the woman's parents before Ge 29:18; 34:12; 1Sa 18:27,28; Ho 3:2

CELEBRATED

• With great rejoicing Jer 33:11; Joh 3:29
• With feasting Ge 29:22; Jud 14:10; Mt 22:2,3; Joh 2:1-10
• For seven days Jud 14:12

A benediction pronounced after Ge 24:60; Ru 4:11,12

THE BRIDE

• Received presents before Ge 24:53
• Given a handmaid at Ge 24:59; 29:24,29
• Adorned with jewels for Isa 49:18; 61:10
• Gorgeously apparelled Ps 45:13,14
• Attended by bridesmaids Ps 45:9
• Stood on the right of bridegroom Ps 45:9
• Called to forget her father's house Ps 45:10

THE BRIDEGROOM

• Adorned with ornaments Isa 61:10
• Attended by many friends Jud 14:11; Joh 3:29
• Presented with gifts Ps 45:12
• Crowned with garlands So 3:11
• Rejoiced over the bride Isa 62:5
• Returned with the bride to his house at night Mt 25:1-6

Garments provided for guests at Mt 22:12

Infidelity of those contracted in, punished as if married De 22:23,24; Mt 1:19

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

• God's union with the Jewish nation Isa 54:5; Jer 3:14; Ho 2:19,20
• Christ's union with his church Eph 5:23,24,32