Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOWRY

A gift by a bride’s father to the bride. Generally, a dowry is to be understood in the context of marriage, and was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern societies. One could view the dowry as the daughter’s share of the parents’ inheritance as she leaves the parental home for her husband’s. The dowry, which may comprise different household items in addition to other valuables, could serve as an inducement to attract prospective suitors.

Laban gives his maids Zilpah and Bilhah as dowry to Leah and Rachel respectively on their marriages to Jacob (Gen. 29:24, 29). This custom is distinguished from gifts given by the groom to the bride, as in the case of Rebekah, who together with her family is lavished with gifts (Gen. 24:53). These gifts may include a payment of the bride-price to the bride’s father, as in the encounter between Shechem and the brothers of Dinah (Gen. 34:11-12). If a man seduces a virgin, he is required to pay a bride-price for her and legally marry her (Exod. 22:16[MT 15]; cf. Deut. 22:29). As the woman moves from the household of her father to that of her husband, a financial transaction is entered into.

In some instances, dowry is used outside the immediate context of marriage. After Leah gives birth to Zebulun, she views the birth of her six sons as a dowry from God, which in turn she believes would bring her honor from Jacob (Gen. 30:20). In 1 Kgs. 9:16 Pharaoh gives the destroyed city of Gezer to his daughter and her husband Solomon as a dowry. In both of these instances, though used figuratively, dowry still captures the essential notion of a gift to the bride.

Hemchand Gossai

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOWRY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)