The laws pertaining to marriage in the legal codes distributed throughout the Old Testament are few and scattered. Most of these laws address issues such as: anathemas pertaining to who to marry, how to determine virginity, the dissolution of marriage, remarriage, childlessness, widowhood, etc. This is unlike the ancient near Eastern codes which tend to discuss matters of legal interest in an orderly manner; thus, the laws of marriage, for most part, are successively arranged in blocks like Hammurabi’s Code or the Middle Assyrian Laws.
Although, as we have seen, the Old Testament law contained no prescription for marriage, nevertheless, marriage is of great importance. Both in primeval history and the history of the patriarchs, the history of tribes and peoples is narrated as family histories. In the genealogies (Gen 5) marriage and the begetting of children (especially males) are the most important features of the lives mentioned.
The Old …show more content…
The practice of companions attending to the groom (Judg 14:11) seems to have continued in the New Testament period (Matt 19:15). He was preceded by singers or musicians (Gen 31:27; Jer 7:34; 16:9; 1Macc 9:39) and accompanied by torch-bearers or lamp-bearers (Neh 10:2; Jer 25:10; Matt 25:7; Rev 18:23). The bride awaited the groom with her maidens who conducted the whole party back to his own home (Matt 25:6; Cant 3:11). In the New Testament times and no doubt earlier, friends and neighbours participated in the feast that then took place (Matt 22: 1-10; Luke 14:8; John 2:2).
In the Old Testament, marriage is clearly regarded from the husband’s standpoint and serves above all for the begetting of the offspring. In order to achieve this end, a man might take another wife. At the same time, the wife is loved and is taken seriously as a partner. She is a partner in a sexual and personal
Although, as we have seen, the Old Testament law contained no prescription for marriage, nevertheless, marriage is of great importance. Both in primeval history and the history of the patriarchs, the history of tribes and peoples is narrated as family histories. In the genealogies (Gen 5) marriage and the begetting of children (especially males) are the most important features of the lives mentioned.
The Old …show more content…
The practice of companions attending to the groom (Judg 14:11) seems to have continued in the New Testament period (Matt 19:15). He was preceded by singers or musicians (Gen 31:27; Jer 7:34; 16:9; 1Macc 9:39) and accompanied by torch-bearers or lamp-bearers (Neh 10:2; Jer 25:10; Matt 25:7; Rev 18:23). The bride awaited the groom with her maidens who conducted the whole party back to his own home (Matt 25:6; Cant 3:11). In the New Testament times and no doubt earlier, friends and neighbours participated in the feast that then took place (Matt 22: 1-10; Luke 14:8; John 2:2).
In the Old Testament, marriage is clearly regarded from the husband’s standpoint and serves above all for the begetting of the offspring. In order to achieve this end, a man might take another wife. At the same time, the wife is loved and is taken seriously as a partner. She is a partner in a sexual and personal