The cost of marriage One of the major reasons that couples wait until they are older to get married in today’s society is because marriage is a financial responsibility. “Marriage itself was regarded as much more than an agreement to live together. The laws and financial arrangements attached to it show that Mesopotamian society intended marriages to involve lifelong commitments.” (Wenham, 7) It is very interesting to learn that marriage had a cost in those days. Prior to this paper I understood that a fiancé needed to help the father of the bride-to-be by doing work in that family’s land before marrying his daughter. I understood that the fiancé needed a plan to financial support the bride after they were married. I also understood that
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(See, for example, Proverbs 5.15-19; Ecclesiastes 9.9; Isaiah 54.6f) Jeremiah 2.2).” (Wenham, 15)
As someone who has read numerous bible stories pertaining to single people and married couples it is very interesting that there aren’t many examples of financial conversations before marriage. There was never a financial plan discussed in any of these biblical stories regarding marriage. Property that was owned was also not mentioned to the wife-to-be before marriage. “The cost of marriage would have prevented most men from taking this step, and only the paramount importance of having children and the even greater cost of divorce led some to adopt this solution to their problem.” (Wenham, 15) This helps me understand the benefit of arranged marriages. Families wanted to make sure that their daughter would not fall into financial hardship because of her husband’s unknown financial status. The groom had to be prepared to pay the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage prior to the marriage and also commit to do service for the family prior to the union if necessary. “The bride-money was typically 50 shekels, …show more content…
The marriages that occurred in these examples show that because they were outside of the will of God they were not ordained by him. These marriages were unable to obtain the love that God created for marriage because the marriages were not connected to him. During the time of the Old Testament people seemed to marry for many reasons including; lust, attraction, selfishness, and legacy. It was rare that I saw stories of love prior to a couple’s marriage in the Old Testament. It was very important for me to learn that marriage did not equal love in the Old Testament. Knowing this will help me as I plan to work with couples in pastoral counseling in the future. Using the Old Testament as my guide, I can now equip couples in various examples of
(See, for example, Proverbs 5.15-19; Ecclesiastes 9.9; Isaiah 54.6f) Jeremiah 2.2).” (Wenham, 15)
As someone who has read numerous bible stories pertaining to single people and married couples it is very interesting that there aren’t many examples of financial conversations before marriage. There was never a financial plan discussed in any of these biblical stories regarding marriage. Property that was owned was also not mentioned to the wife-to-be before marriage. “The cost of marriage would have prevented most men from taking this step, and only the paramount importance of having children and the even greater cost of divorce led some to adopt this solution to their problem.” (Wenham, 15) This helps me understand the benefit of arranged marriages. Families wanted to make sure that their daughter would not fall into financial hardship because of her husband’s unknown financial status. The groom had to be prepared to pay the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage prior to the marriage and also commit to do service for the family prior to the union if necessary. “The bride-money was typically 50 shekels, …show more content…
The marriages that occurred in these examples show that because they were outside of the will of God they were not ordained by him. These marriages were unable to obtain the love that God created for marriage because the marriages were not connected to him. During the time of the Old Testament people seemed to marry for many reasons including; lust, attraction, selfishness, and legacy. It was rare that I saw stories of love prior to a couple’s marriage in the Old Testament. It was very important for me to learn that marriage did not equal love in the Old Testament. Knowing this will help me as I plan to work with couples in pastoral counseling in the future. Using the Old Testament as my guide, I can now equip couples in various examples of