Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-03-06

ofone man saying. We mW cat om omn
dread and mea,' or orn apparel; only
let as be callcd by thy name to take oway
our repr0ach.
2. The custom was that the young
man should buy his wife, and before the
engagement, it was agreed among the
conditions of the marriage, what should
be the dowry that the husband should
give to his wife, and what the presents to
her father and brothers. We see that
clearly in the history of Israel. He
agrees at first to serve Laban seven
years for his daughter Rachel. Then
instead of Rachel, they give him Leah,
and obliges him, by a new contract, TO
serve seven years more for Rachel. Saul
sold his daughter Michol to David. She
chem begging Dinah for his wife (Gcn-
esis, CHI. p, V. ILL., says to her father:
Let me find grace in your eyes, dndmhot
ye shall sag unto me I 'ciW eire-oskmc
ecer so much domry and rift ; and I mW
gire according as ye stall say; bit gicc
me the damsei to mite. Hosea bought
his wife for fifteen pieces ofsiIrer and an
homer and a half ofbarlcy. (iios. cl. 3,
v.22
4. Itappcars that engagements usually
preceded marriages of six or twelve
months. Yet this was not universal, be-
cause we see that the young Tohiah hav-
ing asked Sarah for his wife, the mar
riagc was concluded & celebrated immcdi-
ately. The Rabbins say something
which is not very probable, that a father
had no power to give or refuse his daugh-
ter after her age of puberty. The con-
trary appears in the scriptures, where the
father always disposcs Of his daughters
without any opposition, as Rebecca and
Sarah, wives ofTobiah, who, undoubtcd-
ly were more than twelve years old when
they married; and Thamar who could
not marry without the consent of her
fathcr-in-Iaw.
5. Engagements were made either in
writing, or by piece Of silver given to
the girl, or by the cohabitation Of the two
parties. This is the form of the written
act on such year, n, son of \, has said
to N, daughter of n: BE my wife ac-
cording to the rite Of Moses and the Is
raclites, and will give you for dowry OF
your virginity, the sum Of two hundred
aa=mS, which IS ordered by the law. And
the said \, has consented to be his con-
sort under these conditions, sc. Sc. wit
ncsscs n, n, n, Sc" The promise by
piece of silver, was made in presence
of Witnesses, and the Young man said to
his pretended: Receive this silver fol
pledge that you viii iccomc my wife.
9. (Thc form contract of marriage
was published in the d. A. of the llth.
7. When the parties were agreed OF
the marriage and the conditions, they
chose day to celebrate the wedding
The modern Jews have the custom o.
choosing Wednesday or Friday, If it is {
maid, and Thursday, if widow. Ii
consulting several authors who wrote or
this subject, we find some difference be.
tween them, and it appears that tie usage
is not the same every where. On tho
day Of the wedding the bride is dressed
in all that is richest and ncatcst Tho
ceremony takes place in the open air
either in a yard or in garden.
The bride wears a black veil be-
fore her face in memory Of Rebccca wh(
covered herself with Il veil when she per
ccivcd Isaac her husband. (Gcnes. ch
"a, V. 65,) and the bridegroom also wear
a short veil in memory Of the ruin of til,
temple and of Jerusalem. Over thci
head is placed "tolcd," which is
square veil, because Of what is said in thu
history Of Ruth: Sprcad thy skirt oce
thine handmaid for than art my neares
knsman. (Ruth ch. 3, V. o. and of thos
words Of Ezekiel when the Lord speak
ing to the race of Israel, which Inc repre-
scnts as a spouse, says: "|Ihea ! pas
by thee and looked upon Nce, thy tin
was the time of lore and Ispre0d NJ
skirts Oper thee, and cocercd thy naked
ness. Ezekiel eli. lG, V. 81 Then tn
Rabbin of the place, or the nearest kins
man take vase full of WINE and aitc
saying prayer gives it to the couple t
taste it. After which the bridcgroo.