CHAPTER X

MARRIAGE.

VERY pleasant was that day of rest and thanksgiving, and joyous the festivity that followed; but a season far happier was now approaching;-Azriel was to be married. No reason for delay existed. His love, and that of Rachel also, had only deepened with time. They were everything earthly to each other; they had been betrothed now for several months; their parents had gladly consented, and nought remained but to prepare a house for Azriel and his bride.

Truly note-worthy is the sympathy that the writers of the Old Testament display with all that is at once human and innocent, and especially with honourable love. The 127th and 128th Psalms are gems of beauty, for they speak of wedded life sanctified by the fear of God, of the wife as a "fruitful vine," of the children as a "heritage of Jehovah," as "olive plants" round the table. Exquisite, if startling, is the comparison, "As a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." The Song of Songs literally is a sweet utterance of pure and faithful affection,

which is only invested with a peculiar sanctity if employed to express the love of God to His people. Indeed, nought can exceed the elevation and tenderness of the Old Testament on this subject, till we read in the New, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for her."

Instructed by the teaching of Prophets and Psalmists, Azriel regarded the marriage relation with deep reverence. He looked upon it as an expressive symbol of the union of Jehovah with Israel, and knew that a good and loving wife was His gracious gift. And that surely Rachel would prove to be. She feared God, and rejoiced in the peace of Jerusalem; her dazzling beauty-her lover thought it perfect-was only a veil to the loveliness of her soul. And he thought with rapturous delight how soon this inestimable treasure would be all his own, to enjoy and cherish as long as life endured.

Resolved to secure his bliss as soon as possible, within a month after presenting his sacrifice of thanksgiving in the Temple, he procured the consent of both his father and Elkanah to their speedy union, and as they had long been destined for each other, and no reason for delay existed, the wedding-day was soon fixed, and, as the reader will readily believe, though it seemed to the ardent bridegroom supernaturally delayed, did come at last.

A brighter day never dawned upon Jerusalem. The sun shone from an unclouded sky, glorifying all things, but the summer heat had not as yet embrowned

the earth, and the air was soft and stirring. His heart bounding and trembling with excess of joy, Azriel rose early, and dressed himself in richer garments than he had ever worn before. His tunic of whitest linen was covered with, flowers wrought in needlework. His scarlet mantle glittered with gold embroidery. His girdle of purple and crimson was exquisitely wrought, and its deep fringe reached his very feet. Chains of gold hung round his neck. On his head was a kind of mitre, surmounted by a golden flower. His sandals were fastened to his feet by thongs of blue leather, studded with stars.

On coming from the inner chamber he found his father, also arrayed in festal garments, and a number of young men, his intimate friends, attired not less magnificently than himself, waiting to receive him.

His first business was to arrange the costly gifts he had intended for his bride,-necklaces of pearl, with armlets and ear-rings of gold, which he enclosed in silver caskets, and gave to his companions to carry, Then, mounting their white asses, the joyous group rode in state to Elkanah's house, saluted on the way by the shouts of the people. Here they were conducted to the large room opening on the court, where, reclined on couches, they awaited the coming of Rachel with nervous impatience.

They had not long to wait. She soon appeared, accompanied by her father, and followed by a crowd of young women, in gorgeous costume; and Azriel, as he gazed upon her, felt as if in a delightful dream from which he feared to awake. Never had her beauty

shone more resplendently, so dazzling was the whiteness of her skin, so rich the flush of maiden modesty that relieved it, so lustrous her meek brown eyes, so exquisite the grace of her every gesture. The circlet round her brow was partially concealed by the transparent veil; her long glossy hair was plaited with gold, and the braids almost reached her feet; her slender fingers sparkled with rings, and pendants of precious stones hung from her ears. The bright blue ground of her mantle was almost hidden by the flowers that besprinkled it; and silver boxes, filled with exquisite perfume, hung from her girdle. The fastenings of her sandals glittered with golden ornaments. At the sight of the bridegroom a crimson flush suffused her features, and enriched their loveliness, while she accepted his gifts with an innocent joy, an expressive gladness, indescribably touching.

Elkanah now produced the marriage covenant, and having read it in a solemn voice gave it to Azriel, who sealed it with a seal attached to a ring he wore on his little finger, and confirmed it with an oath. Rachel did the same, and the sacred compact was concluded. They then knelt down before their parents and besought their blessing, when the hoary priest lifted his hands to heaven, and said, gazing upon his children with intense affection, " Blessed be ye, of Jehovah, the God of Israel! May ye love as Isaac and Rebecca, as Jacob and Rachel! May ye be happy, as Miriam and Shallum of the house of your fathers! May your offspring be as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of heaven for multitude! May their horn be as the horn

of the unicorn, and may they possess the gate of their enemies."

The wedded pair then rose, and Azriel, lifting the veil, imprinted an impassioned kiss on the face of his bride, now his own for ever, who turned her fair countenance, wet with tears, to her father, threw her arms round his neck, and thanked him for his gentle care and untiring love, till the old man, clasping her to his bosom, wept aloud, and cried, "Oh, how like thy mother! Would she had lived to see this day!"

That evening there was, of course, a great feast in the house of Elkanah. Round some twenty tables were ranged numerous guests, arrayed in wedding garments. The flesh of calves, lambs, and kids from the folds and stalls of Elkanah formed the more substantial portions of the fare; but to these viands were added clean birds snared in fields and on mountains, fish brought from Joppa, "having fins and scales," cream and cheese in large bowls, piles of figs, dates, and pomegranates, to say nothing of the choice wines and cooling drinks. The songs of Solomon and hymns of Asaph enlivened the entertainment, which was prolonged till an unseasonable hour, as it was then esteemed, that is, till about seven P.M., according to our reckoning.

This, however, was only the commencement of the rejoicings, which, including a great variety of banquets and amusements, with unlimited singing, music, and dancing, lasted fourteen days. And it was not till the fifteenth day that Azriel conducted his bride to his

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