- betrothed a wife:
- It was customary among the Jews to contract matrimony, espouse, or betroth, and for a considerable time to leave the parties in the houses of the respective parents; and when the bridegroom had made proper preparations, then the bride was brought home to his house, and the marriage consummated. The provisions in this verse refer to a case of this kind; though the Jews extend it to him who had newly consummated his marriage, and even to him who had married his brother's wife. It was deemed a peculiar hardship for a person to be obliged to go to battle, who had left a house unfinished, newly purchased land half tilled, or a wife with whom he had just contracted marriage. "If¹ a damselª [that is] a virginª be¹ betrothedª° unto an husband,ª and a manª findª° her in the city,ª and lieª° with¹ her; ... But if¹ a manª findª°¹ a betrothedª° damselª in the field,ª and the manª forceª° her, and lieª° with¹ her: then the manª only¹ that¹ layª° with¹ her shall die:ª°" {Deu 22:23-25} + "When¹ a manª hath takenª° a newª wife,ª he shall not¹ go outª° to war,ª neither¹ shall he be chargedª° with¹ any¹ business:ª [but] he shall be¹ freeª at homeª oneª year,ª and shall cheer upª°¹ his wifeª which¹ he hath taken.ª°" {Deu 24:5} + "Nowª the¹ birthª of Jesusª Christª wasª° on this wise:ª When asª hisª motherª Maryª was espousedª° to Joseph,ª beforeª² theyª came together,ª° she was found²° with childªªª°¹ ofª the Holyª Ghost.ª" {Mtt 1:18}
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