Ritual and historical perspectives each provide only a partial view of early Jewish weddings. Combining these approaches allows for a new look at practices rejected or highlighted by early rabbis and their successors, and First Came Marriage: The Rabbinic Appropriation of Early Jewish Wedding Ritual investigates the process by which early Jews married and the various moves they used to minimize, elaborate or codify these practices.

Contenu

Table of Contents (page 5)
Acknowledgments (page 7)
Abbreviations (page 9)
Introduction: The Paradox of Ritual and History (page 11)
Chapter One: Recognizing Betrothals After the Fact (page 21)
Chapter Two: Preparing the Bride (page 81)
Chapter Three: Debating Wedding Processions, Negotiating Post-Temple Jewish Practice (page 117)
Chapter Four: Wedding-Feast Blessings and Rabbinic Communal Mobility (page 145)
Conclusion (page 199)
Excursus: Tosefta Qiddushin (page 203)
Appendix: Selected Texts and Translations (page 211)
Bibliography (page 217)
Index (page 261)