Ancient Jewish Marriage Tradition

https://youtu.be/dU81hfwml6Q?si=vKnQQF-JqD8p0Egk

Andrea Woodman has been presenting on Stick of Joseph and Ward Radio brilliantly pointing out that many scriptures make reference to the ancient Jewish marriage tradition. So. understanding the aspects of the tradition is necessary to understanding the scriptures. Jesus Christ is the groom and the Church is the bride.

Negotiations: arranged by the bride and groom's fathers. Not independent of agency. The bride and groom may already like each other. The bride has agency to accept. God selected Adam's wife.

Proposal: Shiddukhin: If the bride opens the door to the groom and groom's father, she accepts the betrothal and sign the katubah and share a meal together.

Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."

Betrothal: Erusin: Ketubah: a marriage contract by a groom given to the bride, promising to take care her needs.

Baptism: Traditionally, in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, the bride (kallah) and groom (chatan) are separately immersed in water in a ritual called the mikvah, which is symbolic of spiritual cleansing.

Mohar: Bride price is a dowry or endowment paid by groom's family to bride's family. Mattan: gifts given to bride's family and friends.

Gen 24:53 "Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother."

Gen 34:11 “Let me find favor in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. Ask me never so much mohar and mattan, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me; but give me the damsel to wife.”

Preparation: Erusin: During the erusin period, the groom was to prepare a place for his bride, while the bride focused on her personal preparations: wedding garments, lamps, etc. The groom spent the year building a house for his family to reside.

2 Cor 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

Procession: Although the bride knew to expect her groom after about a year, she did not know the exact day or hour. It was the father of the groom who gave final approval for him to return to collect his bride. The son must have completed the construction of his home. 

Matt 25:6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" 

John 14:2-3 "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Wedding: Nissuin: means to take or to lift up. The groom, with much noise, and fanfare carries the bride home. The bride and groom then recite a blessing over the wine (a symbol of joy), and finalize their vows under the wedding canopy or huppah.

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (exalt)."

Covenant established (Ketubah) – 1 Cor 11:25                     

Purchase Price -1 Cor 6:19-20                                               

Bride set apart – Eph 5:25-27, 1 Cor 1:2, 6,              

Reminded of the Covenant – 1 Cor 11:25-26                   

Bridegroom left for the Father’s house- John 14:1-3

He returns to get His bride – 1 Thess 4:16-17

Thief in the Night: In Jewish tradition, the high priest was known as “a thief in the night.” Why? During the night watch of the Temple, the high priest would check on the Temple guards to see if they were asleep while on duty. If a guard were asleep, the high priest would wake him up by lighting the fringe of his temple robes on fire.