THE SLOW ROAD TO MONOGAMY
form of presenting a ring or another object of value while the formula harei at mekudeshet... is recited."
In addition, marriage could and can still be effected through intercourse(biah) when preceded by a statement indicating the wish to take this woman as a wife or if two witnesses have seen the couple leaving for a private place. Marriage is assumed, as intercourse was taken for granted. The later marriage ceremony seeks to combine all three elements. This, too, should be taken as a step toward monogamy, as it made marriage a formal, public, legal act, less likely to be disputed.
The Bible had established marriage through sexual relations," and the rabbinic literature felt it necessary to include this along with the other two methods, although the authorities objected strenuously to marriage through sexual union alone. The general rabbinic opinion was that all sexual unions were to be taken seriously unless there was definite evidence to the contrary'>—a situation, probably, often far from the minds of those engaged in the act.
On the other hand, the reality that the sexual drive was diffi cult to control led some scholars to suggest that if the urge was(00 strong, the individual should put on a dark garment, go 0 2 neighboring community, and find a woman.'® In addition, the Tal mud made it possible for those away on trading trips to take wives| on a temporary basis, as brief as a single day. They could, of course, also take wives on a permanent basis in the community of their destination if they visited there often. This, too, was a bow 10 reality. There was no numerical limit, but four was suggested.'” The fact that these statements survived in the texts suggests that marriagt
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