Topical Bible: Marriage: The Bride: Given a Handmaid At

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In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, marriage customs often included practices that may seem unusual to modern readers. One such practice was the giving of a handmaid to the bride. This custom is documented in several instances within the Old Testament, reflecting the societal norms and familial structures of ancient times.

Genesis 16:1-3
The first notable instance of a bride being given a handmaid is found in the account of Sarai (later Sarah) and Hagar. Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. In accordance with the customs of the time, Sarai gave her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abram as a wife to bear children on her behalf. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'Look now, the LORD has prevented me from having children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai."

Genesis 29:24, 29
Another example is found in the account of Jacob's marriages to Leah and Rachel. When Laban, their father, gave Leah to Jacob as a wife, he also gave her a handmaid, Zilpah. Similarly, when Rachel was given to Jacob, she was accompanied by her handmaid, Bilhah. Genesis 29:24 notes: "And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant." Later, in Genesis 29:29 , it is recorded: "Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant."

Genesis 30:3-4, 9
The role of these handmaids extended beyond mere servitude; they were often involved in the continuation of the family line. Rachel, who was initially barren, gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children on her behalf. Genesis 30:3-4 states: "Then Rachel said, 'Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Go and sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, and through her I too can build a family.' So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her." Similarly, Leah, when she stopped bearing children, gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob, as recorded in Genesis 30:9 : "When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife."

Cultural and Theological Implications
The practice of giving a handmaid to a bride was deeply rooted in the patriarchal and familial structures of ancient Near Eastern societies. It was a means to ensure the continuation of a family line, particularly in cases of barrenness. Theologically, these narratives highlight the complexities of human relationships and the sovereignty of God in fulfilling His promises, often in unexpected ways. The accounts of Hagar, Zilpah, and Bilhah also serve as reminders of God's concern for all individuals, regardless of their social status, as He weaves their lives into His divine plan.

These accounts, while reflecting the customs of their time, also provide insight into the broader biblical themes of faith, promise, and the unfolding of God's redemptive history through imperfect human actions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 24:59
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 29:24,29
And Laban gave to his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

In common with the Roman Church, the Greek Church has seven ...
... sins; for venial sins absolution alone is given, the penitent ... himself to the weakness
of the bride, and that ... Then follows the Coronation, or marriage proper. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/iii.htm

He Describes the Praiseworthy Habits of his Mother; Her Kindness ...
... not only from the time of actual marriage, but from ... also the custom that the affianced
bride (pact?? spons??) should not immediately be given up, that ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix he describes the praiseworthy.htm

1 Thessalonians iv. 3-Jan
... as he with much fear and trembling had given these commandments ... or any other course
of life, consider of his marriage. ... that thou wilt soon take a bride for him ...
/.../homily v 1 thessalonians iv.htm

How Queen Ethelthryth Always Preserved Her virginity, and Her Body ...
... after he had married her, and she was given to the ... the queen to consent to fulfil
her marriage duty, for he ... and the body of the holy virgin and bride of Christ ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xix how queen ethelthryth.htm

Chapter xxix
... entirely whispered; that reticence on the bride's part would ... found in modern courtships
before marriage, were unthought ... also the other shall be given to thee ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxix.htm

The Women of the Gospel Narrative the Study of the Early Christian ...
... writing a dowry was given with the bride, and she ... order, and make the needful provisions
for the marriage. ... of the Annunciation, similar to that given by Saint ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/i the women of the.htm

Women of the Frankish Church
... If the accounts given by Frankish historians may be ... He asked in marriage the beautiful
and pious daughter of ... minute report of the charm of his expected bride. ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/viii women of the frankish.htm

After Eutropius Having Been Found Outside the Church had Been ...
... The virgin is the root of marriage: thus all things have ... The dowry of the bride then
was divided into two ... things seen and things heard, things given and things ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii after eutropius having.htm

The visitation
... of thanks for the fulfillment of the blessing given in the ... bears the mark of virginity;
in it marriage is a ... sacrament, that of Christ and His Bride, the Church ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ix the visitation.htm

On the Baptism of Christ.
... perishing"water that was not before, but was given as a ... to make the match, so as
to secure a bride for his ... finds Rebekah at the well: and a marriage that was ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the baptism of christ.htm