By Joseph
                                    Czar  
http://ShemaYHVH.net
                                    In Biblical times, when a Jewish man wished to have the 
hand
                                    of a Jewish woman in Marriage, he would visit the 
father of his future bride to discuss the price that would 
be necessary
                                    for her hand. During this meeting 
would be discussed his intent, and the price 
that would be paid for his bride negotiated.
                                     
                                    The Groom then made a
                                    visit to his intended Bride 
to present himself to her with plans for the future and 
their commitment to each other,
                                    
should their desire be mutual. 
                                    Upon presenting to her
                                    his plans, and seeing her response, 
he would pass a cup of wine to her.  This was the moment of 
truth for
                                    their course of action.  To drink of the cup would be 
her acceptance to his proposal and a life long commitment to
                                    
him.  To pass on the cup would end the relationship.  This 
moment in her life was very important. 
                                    To drink from the 
cup meant Betrothal, establishment of a marriage 
covenant, set apart
                                    exclusively for her husband. 
                                    Sharing the cup, with eyes
                                    on each other, hearts soaring, 
the Groom would promise with words like this:  "Let not your
heart be troubled.  In my Father's house there are many
                                    
rooms, and I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to 
prepare a place for you, I will come again to take
                                    you unto 
myself that where I am you will be also.  If it were not true 
I would not have told you." 
                                    The moment she drank
                                    from the cup her intentions were also 
sealed, and when the price was paid, The Covenant was
                                    
sealed.  She was Betrothed to Him, separated from 
the world as she then waited for
                                    his return. 
                                    He then would return
                                    to His Father's house to prepare their 
room, and He would continue in preparation until His Father 
said that
                                    it was finished.  He would not know when the room 
was finished, only the Father knew.  So the Son 
continued
                                    preparing until Word came from 
His Father that preparations were complete. 
                                    During his absence which
                                    could be a day, a week, a month, 
a year or longer, the Bride would wait and put together her 
wedding dress, in preparation
                                    for Her Groom's Return.  
During his absence she wore a veil, a symbol of her 
Set-Apartness and would not be seen
                                    by strangers.  Her 
commitment was played out during this waiting period and 
none were aloud to interfere. 
                                    She would prepare by day, and 
wait by night for her Groom.  Her dowry kept her busy as
her heart longed for that
                                    moment when He would return for 
Her and take Her onto Himself. 
                                    When the Groom finished
                                    preparation of the 
Bridal Chamber according to His Father's approval, 
a torchlight procession led by the Groom,
                                    with His Best Man 
and members from the wedding party proceeded 
to the home of the Bride to claim His Wife. 
                                    This event usually happened
                                    at night.  The Bride needed to 
be ready at a moments notice, for her only announcement 
came by a
                                    shout from the best man.  Her dowry 
prepared by day, and waiting by night with her lamp light on, 
in anticipation
                                    of His Coming; Listening for the shout, 
night by night, not knowing when or what moment, being 
readily prepared to
                                    trim Her Lamp and go to be received by 
Her Husband, kept her busy
                                    looking forward to 
Her Wedding Day. 
                                    Once received, the wedding
                                    party returned to the 
Father's house to find that
                                    the Father had prepared a 
Magnificent Wedding Feast. 
                                    Members of the wedding
                                    party would escort the Bride and 
Groom to the Huppah, Hebrew for bridal chamber.  The
                                    best 
man would wait outside the bridal chamber to hear a
prearranged signal that the marriage was consummated.  
(John
                                    3:29).  Then began a seven-day celebration with all the 
guests and the wedding party, but the bride remained hidden
                                    
within the Huppah until the Groom brought her out unveiled, 
after the seven days were completed. 
                                    Now
                                    the guests could see the Bride without the veil, as 
She joined in the festivities, and for life to celebrate 
with
                                    Her Husband the wonderful bonds of 
total commitment in their marriage. 
                                     
                                    For Additional reading go to 
                                    Betrothal Wedding Feast