Ancient Jewish weddings were different from what we see today.
Hearing the bridegrooms voice took place when the wedding was in a process leading to the completion.
On the wedding day... The bridegroom would pull up in his chariot, and then take his bride with him. (the rapture)
On the wedding day, as the bridegroom approached, others would see him approaching.
Then, exit his chariot (his means of transportation) and call out to his bride.
Then take her to his home, where the marriage was to be consummated.
John was only hearing the Lord calling out the one who was to be his bride.
No marriage had taken place yet. No church yet.
Ancient Jewish weddings differed significantly from modern ceremonies.
A key difference is that ancient weddings were a multi-stage process,
including betrothal and the actual wedding ceremony, with a period of waiting
in between, unlike the single-day events common today.
Arranged marriages were also the norm, with parental involvement and the payment of a mohar (bride price).
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Betrothal (Erusin):
- This was a legally binding agreement, more serious than a modern engagement, that obligated the groom to provide for and protect the bride.
- A gift (mohar) was given to the bride's father, signifying the betrothal.
- Blessings and vows were exchanged, and the couple shared a cup of wine.
2. Waiting Period (often a year):
- The bride prepared for the wedding, while the groom prepared their future home.
- This period symbolized faithfulness and anticipation.
3. Wedding Ceremony (Nissuin):
- The groom, with friends and lamps, would escort the bride from her home to the ceremony.
- The bride wore a gown symbolic of her purity.
- The ceremony involved the Sheva B'rachot (seven blessings), a shared cup of wine, and breaking a glass (a modern custom).
- A large wedding feast (seudah) followed, sometimes lasting for seven days, with food, wine, and celebration.
4. Key Differences from Modern Weddings:
- Arranged Marriages:
Parental involvement and matchmaking were common, unlike the more individual choice common in many modern weddings.
- Stages of the Wedding:
Ancient weddings were a process with a waiting period, while modern ceremonies are often a single event.
- Wedding Feast:
The ancient feasts were extensive, sometimes lasting for a week, a tradition that is less common in modern Jewish weddings.
- Symbolism:
Ancient traditions, like the groom's escorting of the bride and the bride's gown, carried significant symbolic weight.
- Breaking the Glass:
This modern custom is often seen as a symbolic reminder of the destruction of the Temple, but its origins lie in later periods.