Topical Bible: Servant: Bond: Given As Dowry

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, the concept of a servant given as part of a dowry is a practice that reflects the social and familial structures of ancient Near Eastern societies. This practice is mentioned in various biblical narratives, illustrating the customs and legal frameworks of the time.

Biblical Context and Examples

One of the most notable examples of a servant given as part of a dowry is found in the account of Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban, in the Book of Genesis. When Jacob sought to marry Rachel, he agreed to work for Laban for seven years as a bride price. However, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah as a wife first, along with her maidservant Zilpah as part of the dowry. Later, when Jacob married Rachel, Laban also gave Rachel his maidservant Bilhah as part of her dowry. These maidservants, Zilpah and Bilhah, played significant roles in the family dynamics and the birth of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 29:24, 29).

The giving of maidservants as part of a dowry was not merely a transfer of property but also a means of ensuring the welfare and status of the bride within her new household. The maidservants could serve as personal attendants to the bride and, in some cases, bear children on behalf of their mistresses, as seen in the cases of Zilpah and Bilhah (Genesis 30:3-13).

Legal and Social Implications

The practice of including servants in a dowry reflects the patriarchal and familial structures of ancient Israelite society. It underscores the importance of alliances and the transfer of wealth and property through marriage. The dowry served as a form of security for the bride, ensuring her well-being and status in her husband's household.

In the broader legal context of the Old Testament, the treatment and rights of servants were addressed in various laws. For instance, the Mosaic Law provided regulations for the fair treatment of servants, emphasizing justice and compassion (Exodus 21:1-11; Deuteronomy 15:12-18). These laws aimed to protect the rights of servants and ensure their humane treatment, reflecting the ethical standards expected of the Israelite community.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the inclusion of servants in dowries can be seen as part of God's providential plan in the unfolding narrative of His people. The accounts of Zilpah and Bilhah, for example, highlight how God used the customs and practices of the time to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Despite the complexities and imperfections of human relationships, God's purposes were advanced through the lives of these individuals.

Moreover, the biblical emphasis on justice and compassion towards servants serves as a reminder of the inherent dignity and worth of every person, regardless of their social status. The call to treat servants with fairness and kindness reflects the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and upholding the values of God's kingdom.

Conclusion

The practice of giving servants as part of a dowry in biblical times provides insight into the social and familial dynamics of ancient Israel. It highlights the importance of marriage alliances, the transfer of wealth, and the protection of the bride's status. Through the narratives and laws concerning servants, the Bible underscores the values of justice, compassion, and the fulfillment of God's covenantal promises.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 29:24,29
And Laban gave to his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Chapter xxiv
... mother would be felt to be stronger than the bond uniting to ... of fine piety and bold
confession on the servant's part; to ... A dowry (m??har) was regularly given. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiv.htm

After Eutropius Having Been Found Outside the Church had Been ...
... is not the bride: the queen is not the bond-maid: yet ... manifested, not the Godhead;
the form of the servant not that ... But yet the dowry was not given to me here. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii after eutropius having.htm

Women of the Frankish Church
... the Franks, and that I have given my niece ... wife.' 'This,' answered Aridius, 'is no
bond of friendship ... him,' replied Ingonde; 'only let thy servant abide still ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/viii women of the frankish.htm

Faustus Rejects the Old Testament Because it Leaves no Room for ...
... As an unworthy son and servant of the Catholic Church ... of God, the Holy Spirit, the
promised Paraclete, was given. ... of our neighbor, which is the bond of human ...
/.../faustus rejects the old testament.htm

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... Colossians 1:7.), and here, "a servant." "Who is ... For instance, wine is given for
cheerfulness, not drunkenness ... my bonds." Marriage is a bond, a bond ordained of ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

Selection
... by the Carpenter's Son, the Root, the Bond, and the ... whole of the information which
he has given, from unprinted ... life and labours of this eminent Servant of Mary ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/selection.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... 4. If his master have given him a wife and she have ... the Lord at Jerusalem with a
gift; here the bond and the ... that in case of the death of a servant, one or two ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... [Illustration: 262.jpg FEMALE SERVANT BARE TO ... no cause to retire from it, and that
no pretext should be given to her ... The restitution of the dowry after divorce ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... divinity, which your Majesty's most humble servant has taken ... And in the Holy Spirit
given for consolation and ... as that creed was abolished the bond that held ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... justice of the master against the injustice of his servant. ... the rank of queen by
marriage, were given in early ... of one another, and had often no bond of union ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm