The Virgin Connection

I was reading this book I bought recently, Illustrated Manners and Customs of the Bible  (J I Packer and M C Tenny)  and it has notes on rituals of marriage in the biblical  cultures.  On pp434 c2 it makes this statement:

“Both the bride and groom have attendants to serve them.  (Judges 14:11 Psalms 45:14 Mark 2:19) if it were a ROYAL WEDDING the bride gave her attendants to her Husband to add to the glory of HIS COURT!”  (Emphasis mine)

Long I have pondered the virgins of Psalms 45 an their connection to the bride and the parable of the virgins and the five who finally got oil but were shut out.  Palms 45 these virgins are listed as the brides companions who present the bride to the KING.  In the parable the ones whose wicks were successfully trimmed and who had the spare oil to light up or rather keep the lamps lit got into the festivities.   These are her servants whom she to her HUSBAND ( ishi) the KING (baali) to “grace HIS COURT!

The virgins in Song of Solomon extol the love between the King and the Bride….  They love what the King does what they hear about Him doing they love His appearing (after He IS the KING!) but they don’t deeply love like the Bride does and will.

Something to think about

Mary E