Ask me: On the practice of purchasing wives, Deut. Lam. Roque says, "Properly speaking, a young man who would marry must purchase his wife; and fathers among the Arabs are never so happy as when they have many daughters. They form part of the riches of the house. Accordingly, when a young man would treat with a person whose daughter he is inclined to marry, he says to him, Will you give me your daughter for fifty sheep, for six camels, or for a dozen cows?' according to the rank of her family, and the circumstances of him who desires to marry her." dowry: Gen 24:53, Gen 29:18, Gen 31:41, Exo 22:16, Exo 22:17, Deu 22:28, Deu 22:29, 1Sa 18:25-27, 2Sa 3:14, Hos 3:2, Mat 14:17