Divinely Instituted Genesis 2:24

A Covenant Relationship Malachi 2:4

Designed For

The happiness of man Genesis 2:18

Increasing the human population Genesis 1:28, 9:1

Raising up godly seed Malachi 2:15

Preventing fornication 1 Corinthians 7:2

The Expectation of the Promised Seed of the Woman Genesis 3:15, 4:1

Lawful in All 1 Corinthians 7:2, 28, 1 Timothy 5:14

Honourable for All Hebrews 13:4

Should Be Only in the Lord 1 Corinthians 7:39

Expressed By

Joining together Matthew 19:6

Making affinity 1 Kings 3:1

Taking to wife Exodus 2:1

Giving daughters to sons, and sons to daughters Deuteronomy 7:3, Ezra 9:12

Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties Matthew 19:6, Romans 7:2, 3, 1 Corinthians 7:39

Early Introduction of Polygamy Genesis 4:19

Contracted in Patriarchal Age with near Relations Genesis 20:12, 24:24, 28:2

Often Contracted by Parents for Children Genesis 24:49-51, 34:6, 8

Should Be with Consent of Parents Genesis 28:8, Judges 14:2, 3

Consent of the Parties Necessary To Genesis 24:57, 58, 1 Samuel 18:20, 25:41

Parents Might Refuse to Give Their Children In Exodus 22:17, Deuteronomy 7:3

The Jews

Forbidden to contract, with their near relations Leviticus 18:6

Forbidden to contract with idolaters Deuteronomy 7:3, 4, Joshua 23:12, Ezra 9:11, 12

Often contracted with foreigners 1 Kings 11:1, Nehemiah 13:23

Sometimes guilty of polygamy 1 Kings 11:1, 3

Careful in contracting for their children Genesis 24:2, 3, 28:1, 2

Betrothed themselves some time before Deuteronomy 20:7, Judges 14:5, 7, 8, Matthew 1:18

Contracted when young Proverbs 2:17, Joel 1:8

Often contracted, in their own tribe Exodus 2:1, Numbers 36:6-13, Luke 1:5, 27

Obliged to contract with a brother's wife who died without seed Deuteronomy 25:5, Matthew 22:24

Considered being debarred from, a reproach Isaiah 4:1

Considered being debarred from, a cause of grief Judges 11:38

Often punished by being debarred from Jeremiah 7:34, 16:9, 25:10

Were allowed divorce from, because of hardness of their hearts Deuteronomy 24:1, Matthew 19:7, 8

Exempted from going to war immediately after Deuteronomy 20:7

Priest Not to Contract, with Divorced or Improper Leviticus 21:7

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

Contracted at the Gate and before Witnesses Ruth 4:1, 10, 11

Modes of Demanding Women In Genesis 24:3, 4, 34:6, 8, 1 Samuel 25:39, 40

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

A Dowry Given to the Woman's Parents Before Genesis 29:18, 34:12, 1 Samuel 18:27, 28, Hosea 3:2

Celebrated

With great rejoicing Jeremiah 33:11, John 3:29

With feasting Genesis 29:22, Judges 14:10, Matthew 22:2, 3, John 2:1-10

For seven days Judges 14:12

A Benediction Pronounced After Genesis 24:60, Ruth 4:11, 12

The Bride

Received presents before Genesis 24:53

Given a handmaid at Genesis 24:59, 29:24, 29

Adorned with jewels for Isaiah 49:18, 61:10

Gorgeously apparelled Psalm 45:13, 14

Attended by bridesmaids Psalm 45:9

Stood on the right of bridegroom Psalm 45:9

Called to forget her father's house Psalm 45:10

The Bridegroom

Adorned with ornaments Isaiah 61:10

Attended by many friends Judges 14:11, John 3:29

Presented with gifts Psalm 45:12

Crowned with garlands Song of Solomon 3:11

Rejoiced over the bride Isaiah 62:5

Returned with the bride to his house at night Matthew 25:1-6

Garments Provided for Guests At Matthew 22:12

Infidelity of Those Contracted In, Punished as If Deuteronomy 22:23, 24, Matthew 1:19

Illustrative Of

God's union with the Jewish nation Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14, Hosea 2:19, 20

Christ's union with his church Ephesians 5:23, 24, 32