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 age — Ge 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; Jdj 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; Jdj 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 seed. — De 25:5; Mt 22:24.

Considered being debarred from, a reproach. — Isa 4:1.

Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief. — Jdj 11:38.

Often punished by being debarred from. — Jer 7:34; 16:9; 25:10.

Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts. — De 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 person — Le 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; Jdj 14:10; Mt 22:2,3; Joh 2:1-10.

For seven days. — Jdj 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. — Jdj 14:11; Joh 3:29.

Presented with gifts. — Ps 45:12.

Crowned with garlands. — Song 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.