Well, in light of recent discussions, I must revisit the bride. I'm going to use the Smith's bible Dictionary concerning marriage as a format and insert thoughts and interpretations.
3. The modes by which marriage was effected. -- The choice of the bride devolved, not on the bridegroom himself, but on his relations or on a friend deputed by the bridegroom for this purpose. The consent of the maiden was sometimes asked, Gen_24:58, but this appears to have been subordinate to the previous consent of the father and the adult brothers. Gen_24:51; Gen_34:11.
Occasionally, the whole business of selecting the wife was left in the hands of a friend.
The selection of the bride was followed by the espousal, which was a formal proceeding undertaken by a friend or legal representative on the part of the bridegroom and by the parents on the part of the bride; it was confirmed by oaths, and accompanied with presents to the bride. The act of betrothal was celebrated by a feast(THE LAST SUPPER?), and among the more modern Jews, it is the custom in some parts for the bridegroom to place a ring on the bride's finger. The ring was regarded, among the Hebrews, as a token of fidelity, Gen_41:42, and of adoption into a family. Luk_15:25.
Between the betrothal and the marriage, some interval elapsed, varying from a few days, in the patriarchal age, Gen_24:55, to a full year, for virgins and a month, for widows, in later times. During this period, the bride-elect lived with her friends, and all communication between herself and her future husband was carried on through the medium of a friend deputed for the purpose, termed the "friend of the bridegroom." Joh_3:29.(the 2000 years since Christ's ascension have been this interval and communication could be represented by the Apostles writings, but, I think the Holy Spirit and its work through the entire scriptures might be better suited for this communicator)She was now virtually regarded as the wife of her future husband; hence, faithlessness on her part was punishable with death, Deu_22:23-24, the husband having, however, the option of "putting her away." Deu_24:1; Mat_1:19.
The essence of the marriage ceremony consisted in the removal of the bride from her father's house to that of the bridegroom or his father. The bridegroom prepared himself for the occasion by putting on a festive dress, and especially, by placing on his head, a handsome nuptial turban. Psa_45:8; Son_4:10-11. The bride was veiled. Her robes were white, Rev_19:8, and sometimes embroidered with gold thread, Psa_45:13-14, and covered with perfumes. Psa_45:8. She was further decked out with jewels. Isa_49:18; Isa_61:10; Rev_21:2.( I believe the mistake I made before is that I assumed that the bride only wore white to the "wedding" itself and decked herself with jewels ONLY when she left the feast. According to this, she always wears white robes regardless of the adornments, but, these adornments are still identified by Isaiah 49 as proselytes from the "Gentiles" therefore not limiting the prepared bride to "natural" Jews.)When the fixed hour arrived, which was, generally late in the evening, the bridegroom set forth from his house, attended by his groomsmen, (Authorized Version, "companions," Jdg_14:11, "children of the bride-chamber," Mat_9:15, preceded by a band of musicians or singers, Gen_31:27; Jer_7:34; Jer_16:9, and accompanied by persons bearing flambeaux, 2Es_10:2; Jer_25:10; Mat_25:7; Rev_18:23, and took the bride with the friends to his own house.( All this is representd repeatedly in the parable of the ten virgins as well as the gathering of the elect in Matthew 24)At the house, a feast was prepared, to which all the friends and neighbors were invited, Gen_29:22; Mat_22:1-10; Luk_14:8; Joh_2:2, and the festivities were protracted for seven, or even fourteen, days. Jdg_14:12; Job_8:19. The guests were provided by the host with fitting robes, Mat_22:11, and the feast was enlivened with riddles, Jdg_14:12, and other amusements.( The feast itself is still the 1000yr reign in which all the nations are fed and Israel is restored, including "gehenna" where the unresponsive are cast.)The last act in the ceremonial was the conducting of the bride to the bridal chamber, Jdg_15:1; Joe_2:16, where a canopy was prepared. Psa_19:5; Joe_2:16. The bride was still completely veiled, so that the deception practiced on Jacob, Gen_29:23, was not difficult.
I think I spot a flaw or two here, but, please note one or some in case I miss something else.
Chris
3. The modes by which marriage was effected. -- The choice of the bride devolved, not on the bridegroom himself, but on his relations or on a friend deputed by the bridegroom for this purpose. The consent of the maiden was sometimes asked, Gen_24:58, but this appears to have been subordinate to the previous consent of the father and the adult brothers. Gen_24:51; Gen_34:11.
Occasionally, the whole business of selecting the wife was left in the hands of a friend.
The selection of the bride was followed by the espousal, which was a formal proceeding undertaken by a friend or legal representative on the part of the bridegroom and by the parents on the part of the bride; it was confirmed by oaths, and accompanied with presents to the bride. The act of betrothal was celebrated by a feast(THE LAST SUPPER?), and among the more modern Jews, it is the custom in some parts for the bridegroom to place a ring on the bride's finger. The ring was regarded, among the Hebrews, as a token of fidelity, Gen_41:42, and of adoption into a family. Luk_15:25.
Between the betrothal and the marriage, some interval elapsed, varying from a few days, in the patriarchal age, Gen_24:55, to a full year, for virgins and a month, for widows, in later times. During this period, the bride-elect lived with her friends, and all communication between herself and her future husband was carried on through the medium of a friend deputed for the purpose, termed the "friend of the bridegroom." Joh_3:29.(the 2000 years since Christ's ascension have been this interval and communication could be represented by the Apostles writings, but, I think the Holy Spirit and its work through the entire scriptures might be better suited for this communicator)She was now virtually regarded as the wife of her future husband; hence, faithlessness on her part was punishable with death, Deu_22:23-24, the husband having, however, the option of "putting her away." Deu_24:1; Mat_1:19.
The essence of the marriage ceremony consisted in the removal of the bride from her father's house to that of the bridegroom or his father. The bridegroom prepared himself for the occasion by putting on a festive dress, and especially, by placing on his head, a handsome nuptial turban. Psa_45:8; Son_4:10-11. The bride was veiled. Her robes were white, Rev_19:8, and sometimes embroidered with gold thread, Psa_45:13-14, and covered with perfumes. Psa_45:8. She was further decked out with jewels. Isa_49:18; Isa_61:10; Rev_21:2.( I believe the mistake I made before is that I assumed that the bride only wore white to the "wedding" itself and decked herself with jewels ONLY when she left the feast. According to this, she always wears white robes regardless of the adornments, but, these adornments are still identified by Isaiah 49 as proselytes from the "Gentiles" therefore not limiting the prepared bride to "natural" Jews.)When the fixed hour arrived, which was, generally late in the evening, the bridegroom set forth from his house, attended by his groomsmen, (Authorized Version, "companions," Jdg_14:11, "children of the bride-chamber," Mat_9:15, preceded by a band of musicians or singers, Gen_31:27; Jer_7:34; Jer_16:9, and accompanied by persons bearing flambeaux, 2Es_10:2; Jer_25:10; Mat_25:7; Rev_18:23, and took the bride with the friends to his own house.( All this is representd repeatedly in the parable of the ten virgins as well as the gathering of the elect in Matthew 24)At the house, a feast was prepared, to which all the friends and neighbors were invited, Gen_29:22; Mat_22:1-10; Luk_14:8; Joh_2:2, and the festivities were protracted for seven, or even fourteen, days. Jdg_14:12; Job_8:19. The guests were provided by the host with fitting robes, Mat_22:11, and the feast was enlivened with riddles, Jdg_14:12, and other amusements.( The feast itself is still the 1000yr reign in which all the nations are fed and Israel is restored, including "gehenna" where the unresponsive are cast.)The last act in the ceremonial was the conducting of the bride to the bridal chamber, Jdg_15:1; Joe_2:16, where a canopy was prepared. Psa_19:5; Joe_2:16. The bride was still completely veiled, so that the deception practiced on Jacob, Gen_29:23, was not difficult.
I think I spot a flaw or two here, but, please note one or some in case I miss something else.
Chris
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