The Ancient Jewish Wedding
When we think of weddings today we often think of brides in beautiful white dresses, elaborate ceremonies with music, candles, beautifully decorated halls or sanctuaries, brides maids and groomsmen. This was not the case in ancient Jewish weddings.
In biblical times the father usually arranged the marriage of his daughter for a bride price (mohar). This could be cash, property of in some cases even in service as in the case of Jacob (Ge. 29). This was often when she was quite young.The father would usually make preliminary arrangements (shiddukhin) prior to signing the legal betrothal contract (ketubah). The daughter would be consulted but this was, in some cases, just a formality and not really for her consent.
In some instances fathers shared the mohar with their daughters and in some instances wealthier fathers even allowed them to keep their personal servants and other possessions.
Typically a wedding consisted of two ceremonies; the betrothal (erusin) and the actual wedding (nissuin). Interestingly the bride (kallah) was considered legally married after the erusin (betrothal) when the ketubah (contract of marriage) was established by entering a marriage canopy (huppah) where the groom (chatan) would also give gifts (mattan) to the bride. This was a public symbol of their intent to share their lives together, however, the marriage was not consummated. The bride continued to live with her parents until the appointed time when she would be taken in a procession with family and close friends to live with her husband in the place prepared by her husband - often a room added to his parents home. At this time the marriage would be consummated.
After the erusin (betrothal) was established with the ketuba
(marriage contract) it could only be dissolved by a religious
divorce (get). The get could only be initiated by the groom.
During this period of waiting, typically a year or so, the
groom would prepare a place for them to live. This was
often an additional room built onto his father's house.
Neither the bride or the groom knew just when she would be
brought to their new home. The groom's father would decide
when things were ready. At that time a trumpet (shofar)
would be blown and the groom with a procession of family
and friends would proceed to the collect his bride. Since the
bride never knew whether he would come during the day or
during the night she would keep lamps full of oil and be
prepared for him.
Category: Tabernacle
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