Austin Bible Church
In the ancient world, the potential bride and groom may or may not have met. Negotiations were carried on by the parents. This did not hinder the principle that God brings the right kind of woman to the man. The parents of the bride furnished a dowry. They may or may not have had a courtship.
The wedding consisted of the groom obtaining a carriage (chariot) and going to the home of the bride. The father gave the bride to the groom. They walked out through the door of the bride’s house and by doing so became married.
They then went to the groom’s house for the wedding supper (feast), which could last as long as 30 days. The groom’s friends would already be in the house, except the ones who accompanied the groom. The ones in the house already had a head start in the feast.
However, the bride’s friends had to wait outside until the bride and groom entered the house. The bride’s friends were then allowed to enter. At some time during this feast, the bride and groom would slip away.