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; 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 seed De 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 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; 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