|
Biblical marriage or female
singleness under undesirable conditions is determined by the
father of the daughter to be given, not by the daughter or
boyfriend! Sexual intercourse precipitates
a decision in some cases.
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome! This is part of my Dowry of Virgins Bible study and “Chastity And Female Virginity Prerequisite” Playlist |
||
Dowry: The Monetary Value a Man Must Pay the Father of a Virgin |
||
|
Gals: Learn about Waiting on a Man Choosing Chastity or Abstinence Community Intentional Formation Model Community Homogeneity Philosophy Patrilineal Homogeneity Policy Marriage: Appreciate Your Race Women's Lib (Profound Studies)
|
Dowry Price even for Rape (this is concerning a racially and culturally homogeneous member, much different than the case of Shechem below) Dt. 22: 28 “If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” So, a sum of money was demanded for the female's father like a substitute for dowry even though it does not specifically say it that way. This amount was equivalent to the value of fifty pieces of money during the time of the writing of the book of Deuteronomy. It may even be considered the least amount due to the circumstances. It was a fixed price for non-betrothal cases. How we can determine or estimate that value will vary of course today. Nevertheless, we should have a good idea of how much that would be worth so we may expect at least that prorated amount to be given for our daughters. Don't forget, although a partner of betrothal, Jacob worked (as part of his agreement) for years for Leah and Rachel. He was given room and board. Furthermore, he was blessed with his own business (as a reward, but no part of the initial betrothal) and assets when he left. Paying a betrothal may seem like a sacrifice at first, but from theological hindsight, it adds up to part of a future reward—from people working together. So, establishing a formula to assimilate that may not be easy. Whatever the situation, whether at farm hand wages or farm owner earnings, sufficient provision was required for the welfare of the daughters of God's people. They were not just treated as invaluable, temporary, sex objects! The female was determined to become a lifetime wife even to a rapist (without opportunity for divorce). As faithful fathers and guardians of our children, we must establish trust among our sons and daughters, and the community as a whole. We are a Christian body, a Christian organism, not individual masters that have no obligation to a religious community. We are a community of believers in God's direction and providence. We are a unit as a group. Therefore, we have group responsibilities as well as individual responsibilities. Part of that responsibility is the rule of the dowry of virgins. It is not something new; we can begin with the teaching of the patriarchs (Torah), and also contemplate what we learn from the Tenach (Old Testament) and New Testament. We must care for our children's health, welfare and education. We must expect this care to be continued by raising a male child to be a faithful man as to paying dowry to the male parent of his wife. Likewise, we must teach a daughter to be faithful to her parents and eventually, the man favored by her male parent, the husband. The male parent (I Cor. 7:36) must either keep his daughter or give her away to a man who will take the responsibility of a faithful husband. This will require conscientiousness on the part of the parents to raise their children according to Christian, law-directed guidance so that their best potential may be reached. We must recognize that we live a world that has perverted God's laws and guidance. In order to live among others that do not recognize our values, we may have to struggle to please God because of legal problems. This should not stop us from pursuing faithfulness and blessing toward our offspring and posterity. Endowment from God and Family Posterity Leah, Jacob's wife, was aware of the essence of endowment from God. She wanted children and a family (posterity). Ge. 30:20 “And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.” As the family of Jacob started to grow, problems arose right away. He had a beautiful daughter and someone was attracted to her that was not acceptable among the family. We are afflicted with intrusions like this today. The Sin of Shechem (We must be protective of our communities from intrusion and people that will not develop our posterity) Sometimes, a woman may seem so attractive to a man, that he will give almost any price for her. However, if it is not the will of the father of the daughter, or if it is not in accordance with the law of God and our general ideals: way of worship, no romance at all should be attempted by the intrusive and we cannot allow it. (More details … ) Ge. 34:12 “Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.” The unGodly and wicked have a tendency to completely ignore the rules of the righteous. We are threatened by our invasive surroundings. Muslims want to intrude with our women, but they do not even trust our Scriptures. What audacity! We suffer many other atrocities. There are other cults perhaps not so close, for instance, in India there are many complaints of pitiful women suffering from distorted laws that require the parents of their daughters to give a dowry to a male. Reverse of what should be expected. The daughters are even being tortured and killed for not coming up with the money. Instead of providing for the women to become beautiful wives, they are oppressed and persecuted. Let us never think any religion can be good except Christianity. Betrothal Betrothal is another concept we must learn and practice. It is the act of making an agreement between the male parent of a daughter to be-given and the man that plans to marry and become “one flesh” with her. The agreement is binding and demands consequences if it is broken. Note: The female is considered a wife due to the betrothal even though she has not had sex yet. In contrast, American engagements (not based on the Torah) are not seemingly as forceful. Therefore, the American system does not protect the institution of marriage as well as it should and we must rely on Biblical direction, even if we have to seek legal counsel how to implement it. A man shouldn't delay unnecessarily the opportunity to have sex with his betrothed woman. He should be preparing to care for his future family, and when ready (perhaps according to the thoughts and judgments of his or her parents), make the consummation (have the physical enjoyment). We must train our children so as they will not associate with dogs or Jezebel's also. There was provision for illegal intrusions. The death penalty was determined for a male rapist if he violated the female and she screamed. It is necessary that our young women remember to resist the devil and evil sexual attempts. Wishfully, it would be much better if we lived in a more protected society among considerate and harmless men but that is not usually the case. The female must acknowledge that if tragedy strikes, she must scream to exonerate herself from being a partaker of the evil. It is so sad we don't have well established communities of our own and American laws don't provide or protect us near as well as they should. God's people established a great society through the laws of God. Then they disobeyed and corrupted their world. Consequently, they fell into societies that did not bless them at all. However, the New Covenant and Christians came about and influenced governments throughout the world. They were successful in some ways, but not in all ways. We must continue to make things better for our people and remember God in all our things. The Hebrews had Hebrew and non-Hebrew slaves. The laws for them were blessed but different. Americans need a better understanding of these laws. The Civil War may have been prevented if Americans had been more theologically educated. King David's Honesty and Saul's Guile 1 Sa. 18:23 “And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. 25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.” Impliedly, David expected to have to pay a kingly (great) price for the dowry of a king's daughter. Perhaps the earnings of a daughter's parent may give a good example of how much is expected to be given for a daughter: the wellness that the father could provide for his daughter should generally be expected as a relative price the prospective son-in-law should pay. However, even though Saul was corrupt, he did not expect a monetary sum for his daughter but demanded a deed to be accomplished instead. David complied. Non-Betrothal Dowry was expected for sex with a virgin even if the female was not betrothed. This law protected the future and posterity of a virgin and enforced a clean sexual environment and chastity among the religious organism. Society protected its women from being ho's and its children from the sin of bastardization. Word to the Wise Parents, don't sink your investment and the life of a living soul that God would have you bless in a loser! It takes years of hard work and training to bring a daughter up right. She is worthy of the best. She deserves better than an infidel or heretic ... and so does the brethren. Even if a man may offer a good dowry or has good looks, a business and good education is not enough in itself. Don't expect him to repent and believe at a later time by giving him your daughter. He must have faith. Without faith a man cannot please God. It takes faith to bring God's peace to an individual, family, community and Christian organism (the body). Parents and their children must live by faith. Advice for Young Men Don't let a negative addiction make a parent of the girl you like despise your conduct. If you have a problem you think you can't deal with alone, get help from a church support group or Christian rehabilitation help. Jesus can deliver you from any kind of bad problem. Don't lose a potential, great wife because of not maintaining self-control. So, what I'm getting at is learn to live your life in a way that the parent of a girl you like will admire. Also, make sure the parent is living a faithful life as well; many parents that fail God may also allow their daughter to suffer improper training. |
|
|
|
||