Topical Bible: Marriage: Contracted at the Gate and Before Witnesses

◄ Marriage: Contracted at the Gate and Before Witnesses ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In ancient Israelite society, marriage was not merely a private affair but a public covenant that involved the community. The process of contracting a marriage often took place at the city gate, a central location for legal transactions and public gatherings. This practice underscored the communal nature of marriage and the importance of witnesses in establishing the legitimacy of the union.

Biblical Context and Cultural Practices

The city gate served as a hub for legal and social activities in ancient Israel. It was here that elders and leaders of the community would gather to adjudicate disputes, conduct business, and witness important agreements, including marriage contracts. The presence of witnesses at the gate ensured that the marriage was recognized by the community and provided a measure of accountability for both parties involved.

In the Book of Ruth, we find a vivid example of this practice. Boaz, a prominent figure in Bethlehem, seeks to marry Ruth, a Moabite widow. To formalize the marriage, Boaz goes to the city gate to meet with the elders and other witnesses. He declares his intention to redeem the land of Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, and to take Ruth as his wife. The elders and all the people at the gate affirm the transaction, saying, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel" (Ruth 4:11).

Legal and Social Implications

The requirement for witnesses in the marriage process served several purposes. First, it provided legal validation for the marriage, ensuring that it was recognized under the law. This was crucial in a society where family lineage and inheritance rights were of paramount importance. Second, the presence of witnesses acted as a safeguard against future disputes or claims of illegitimacy. Should any questions arise regarding the marriage, the witnesses could testify to the validity of the union.

Moreover, the public nature of the marriage contract at the gate highlighted the communal aspect of marriage. It was not just a union between two individuals but a joining of families and a matter of public interest. The community's involvement in witnessing the marriage underscored the social responsibilities and expectations placed upon the couple.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the practice of contracting marriage at the gate and before witnesses reflects the covenantal nature of marriage as ordained by God. Marriage is seen as a sacred covenant, mirroring the covenant relationship between God and His people. The public affirmation of this covenant at the gate, in the presence of witnesses, emphasizes the seriousness and sanctity of the marital bond.

The role of witnesses in the marriage process also aligns with biblical principles of truth and accountability. In Deuteronomy 19:15, the law states, "A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" . This principle underscores the importance of communal validation and accountability in upholding truth and justice, principles that are integral to the institution of marriage.

Conclusion

The practice of contracting marriage at the gate and before witnesses in ancient Israel highlights the communal, legal, and theological dimensions of marriage. It underscores the importance of public recognition and accountability in establishing the legitimacy and sanctity of the marital covenant. Through this practice, marriage is affirmed as a sacred institution, deeply rooted in the social and spiritual fabric of the community.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ruth 4:1,10,11
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Chaldaean Civilization
... required for this irregular union, and many a son contracted a marriage after this ...
from the beaks of ravens."He seized the seal before witnesses"and he ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Summa Theologica
... Whether the angels were created before the corporeal world? ... Whether the
intellect understands the indivisible before the divisible? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/

Of the Agreement of the Evangelists Matthew and Luke in the ...
... as it were, that He could have contracted defilement from ... my irregular [1707] life
I shut the gate of my ... the fulfilment of this end of marriage, acts contrary ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon i of the agreement.htm

The Argument for the Immaculate Conception.
... conclusus, fons signatus'), and the closed gate in the ... children of Joseph by a former
marriage (Epiphanius), or ... her debt was paid which she never contracted! ...
/.../ 29 the argument for.htm

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels.
... Creed, taught before Lord's Prayer, [894]274, [895]280 ... 1427]343; in what sense they
contracted sin, by ... consciences tremble at, [1474]404; gate of repentance ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... A cage was built for him at the gate of the ... manner given one of his daughters in
marriage to Ambaris ... and that the Assyrian frontier became contracted on that ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1792 to the Close of ...
... prosecuted and fined for performing the marriage ceremony. ... ministerial labors were
very much contracted, and their ... present, and some felt as at heaven's gate. ...
/.../chapter 1 from the close.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... by his marriage with one of his sisters: it was ... from the moment he appeared at the
gate of the ... heavy lids; the large, fleshy lips, slightly contracted at the ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... like a ball, the chest is contracted, the head ... of the character which had distinguished
them before the conquest ... He gave to them in marriage his sisters, his ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... strive to enter in at the strait gate' (Luke 13:24 ... said of faith, the apostles taught
them before us, even ... 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Besides, Luke witnesses and says ...
/.../english version of the second.htm