Christians- What exactly is the biblical version of marriage?

[raleah]

Women don't need to give consent, rape victims must marry their attackers, polygamy is fine.
In Deuteronomy 21:11-13:

if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29:
If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

Exodus 22:16:
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.

Polygynous Marriage
Probably the most common form of marriage in the bible, it is where a man has more than one wife.

Levirate Marriage
When a woman was widowed without a son, it became the responsibility of the brother-in-law or a close male relative to take her in and impregnate her. If the resulting child was a son, he would be considered the heir of her late husband. See Ruth, and the story of Onan (Gen. 38:6-10).

A man, a woman and her property — a female slave
The famous “handmaiden” sketch, as preformed by Abraham (Gen. 16:1-6) and Jacob (Gen. 30:4-5).

A man, one or more wives, and some concubines
The definition of a concubine varies from culture to culture, but they tended to be live-in mistresses. Concubines were tied to their “husband,” but had a lower status than a wife. Their children were not usually heirs, so they were safe outlets for sex without risking the line of succession. To see how badly a concubine could be treated, see the famous story of the Levite and his concubine (Judges 19:1-30).

A male rapist and his victim
Deuteronomy 22:28-29 describes how an unmarried woman who had been raped must marry her attacker.
A male and female slave

A female slave could be married to a male slave without consent, presumably to produce more slaves.

[christos]

Honestly, I wonder if some actually think Mary and Joseph were married because they fell in love with each other.

[mohammed47]

Mark 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

[pascoe69]

Tricky, but I caught you.
Obviously, a Christian's definition of marriage requires a consideration of both the new and old testament, not just independent verses ripped from books from the old testament as it is a rewritten version of the Torah.

You and I both know that Christians consider marriage to be a representation of the marriage between Christ and man.

[edin]

the biblical definition of marriage is one man - one woman....always has been. regardless of whatever other secular/cultural circumstances (rape, slavery, etc) are involved.

[dana]

http://bible.cc/matthew/19-8.htm

one man-one woman---God "tolerated" everything else.