The idea
'Unlike an ordinary Jewish couple, Joseph and Mary did not consummate their marriage on their wedding night. Although it is easy to fly right by this point, it demands some scrutiny.' In ancient Judaism the climax of a wedding was the consummation in the bridal chamber (Matthew 9:15; 25:1–13). And 'nothing in the virginal conception of Jesus would prohibit them from having ordinary marital relations.' So: 'The only plausible explanation for the abstinence of Joseph and Mary on their wedding night is that Mary had taken a vow of abstinence, in accordance with Numbers 30, and Joseph had accepted it.' Taken together, the three evidences give the best explanation; this one, Pitre says, gives the only plausible one.
Key verses
- Matthew 1:25 — 'knew her not' — from the wedding on.
- Matthew 1:19 — Joseph takes her as his wife (1:24).
- Numbers 30:6 — the vow a husband may confirm.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| A Jewish wedding ends in the bridal chamber | → | Joseph and Mary's wedding ends in abstinence |
The third evidence is an absence: the one thing every Jewish wedding included did not happen. Pitre regards this as his strongest single datum for the vow.