Topical Bible: Marriage: The Jews: Often Contracted, in Their own Tribe

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Topical Encyclopedia

Marriage within the Jewish tradition, as depicted in the Bible, often emphasizes the importance of tribal affiliation and heritage. This practice is rooted in the desire to maintain the purity of the Israelite tribes and to preserve the inheritance and land allotted to each tribe by God.

Biblical Foundations

The concept of marrying within one's tribe is evident in several passages throughout the Old Testament. One of the earliest examples is found in the account of the daughters of Zelophehad. In Numbers 36:6-9 , the Lord commands through Moses that the daughters, who had inherited land, must marry within their father's tribe to ensure that the inheritance remains within the tribe of Manasseh:

"This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, as long as they marry within the clan of their father’s tribe. No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to retain the inheritance of its fathers. Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. Thus no inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance."

This directive underscores the importance of tribal continuity and the preservation of land within the tribal system established by God.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Marrying within one's tribe was not merely a matter of legal or economic concern but also held cultural and religious significance. The Israelites were a covenant people, chosen by God to be a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). Marrying within the tribe helped to ensure that the religious and cultural practices unique to each tribe were maintained and passed down through generations.

The account of Isaac and Rebekah further illustrates this principle. Abraham, desiring a suitable wife for his son Isaac, sends his servant back to his own people to find a wife from his kindred (Genesis 24:3-4). This act reflects the importance placed on maintaining cultural and familial ties through marriage.

Tribal Identity and Inheritance

The tribal system was central to the identity of the Israelites. Each tribe had its own distinct role and inheritance within the Promised Land. Marrying within the tribe ensured that these inheritances were preserved and that the tribal identity remained intact. This practice was particularly important in the context of the Jubilee year, where land was to be returned to its original tribal owners (Leviticus 25:10).

Exceptions and Developments

While the general practice was to marry within one's tribe, there were notable exceptions. For instance, Ruth, a Moabite woman, marries Boaz, a member of the tribe of Judah (Ruth 4:13). This union is significant not only for its deviation from the norm but also because it places Ruth in the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-6).

Over time, as the Israelites settled in the land and interacted with surrounding nations, the strict adherence to tribal marriage became more flexible. However, the underlying principles of maintaining religious and cultural integrity continued to influence Jewish marriage practices.

Conclusion

The practice of contracting marriages within one's tribe among the Jews was deeply rooted in the desire to preserve tribal identity, inheritance, and religious purity. This tradition reflects the broader biblical themes of covenant, community, and continuity within the people of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 2:1
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 36:6-13
This is the thing which the LORD does command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 1:5,27
THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Life of Christ.
... converted the water into wine at the marriage in Cana ... claimed to be the Messiah of
the Jews, they perhaps ... New Testament, [29:7] it is so often mentioned with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the life of.htm

Letter Lxix. To Oceanus.
... of life." [2101] Do we read so often of newness ... outside the church we are to understand
Jews, heretics and ... when they cast in our teeth a marriage entered into ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxix to oceanus.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... that she borrowed money at interest and often contracted new loans ... neither marry
nor are given in marriage; but this ... [2993] At this age the Jews suppose Adam ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... After having besought God's blessing on their marriage for so ... Moses de Leon, who
has often been accused of ... of spiritual interpretation among the Jews, and its ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... entered with Israel is typified by a marriage which the ... expressly quoted, and, in
opposition to the Jews, the calling of ... For as often as I speak of him, I must ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

Mahometans.
... Soon after his marriage, he formed the scheme of ... second, named Ladha, they assign
to the Jews; the third ... pleasantness of any place, the Koran often speaks of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/mahometans.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... at other times He spoke openly to the Jews, who in ... apostle speaks as a great mystery
in marriage, as referring ... with one wife only, they are often influenced by ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... Augustine does repeat so often out of the apostle ... it is written in the Gospel, 'The
Jews sought how ... who think that themselves, by their own satisfactions, can ...
/.../english version of the second.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... fourth marriages, or a woman may marry as often as her ... of the Church he was a Jew
to Jews, a Gentile ... because there is no longer a question of single marriage. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... the time of the prophet, and contracted with them ... The classical writers maintain
that the Magi often cloaked monstrous ... him not to give Mandane in marriage to a ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm