The Wife, when she was first presented unto her Husband, covered her Head with a _veil_, in token of _subjection_. _Rebecca_ took a _veil_, and covered her self, (_Gen. 24. 65._) and for this cause (namely in _sign of subjection_) ought the woman to have power on her head, _1 Cor. 11. 10._ where by _Power_ the _Apostle_ understandeth a _veil_. Do any ask the question, why he should denote this _veil_ by the name of _power_, especially seeing it was in _token of subjection_? The _Apostle_ being an _Hebrew_ of the _Hebrews_, might have respect to the _Hebrew_ word _Radid_,[683] signifying a _veil_, which cometh from the root _Radad_, to bear _rule and authority_, and so might use the Greek word,[684] signifying _power_ in the same sense as the _Hebrews_ did. And, in truth, what was this subjection to the husband but a kind of _power_ and _protection_ derived unto the _Wife_, in comparison of her former state, being a _Virgin_? and therefore in case her husband was jealous of her, among other tokens of sorrow, she was commanded to stand at her tryal with her _head uncovered_,[685] _Numb. 5. 18._ intimating thereby, that if she could not then clear her self, she was from thenceforward deprived of all _power_, which heretofore she enjoyed by the means of her Husband.
[683] _רדיד Velamen mulieris, à verbo רדד Subjecit._
[685] _בלא רדיד Sine Radid. ἄνευ ἐξουσίας. Sic ego interpretor verba Maimon. in Sota. 12. c. 3. sect. 5._
After the marriage was finished, sometimes there was permitted a _Bill of Divorce_: this the _Hebrews_ called _Sepher Kerithuth_,[686] _a Bill of cutting off_, because the woman is by this means _cut off from her Husbands family_. _Ten things were_ thought[687] requisite as the _root_ and foundation of a divorce. 1. _That a man put her not away but of his own will._ 2. _That he put her away by writing, not by any other thing._ 3. _That the matter of the writing be to divorce her, and put her away, out of her possession._ 4. _That the matter of that divorcement be between him and her._ 5. _That it be written by her name._ 6. _That there be no action wanting, after the writing thereof, save the delivery of it unto her._ 7. _That he give it unto her._ 8. _That he give it her before witnesses._ 9. _That he give it her by the law of divorces._ 10. _That it be the Husband or his deputy that delivereth it unto her._ The form or copy of this _bill of divorcement_ was as followeth,[688] _Upon such a day of the week, such and such of the month N. such or such an year of the Creation of the world, according to the computation which we use here in this City N. scituate near the River N. that I of the Country N. the son of Rabbi N. of the Country N. But now I dwelling in such or such a place, near such or such a river, have desired of my own free will, without any coaction, and have divorced dismissed and cast out thee, thee I say, thee my wife N. of the country N. the daughter of Rabbi N. dwelling in such or such a country, and dwelling now in such or such a place, scituate near such or such a river, which hast been my wife heretofore, but now I do divorce thee, dismiss thee, and cast thee out, that thou mayst be free, and have the rule of thy self, and to depart, and to marry with any other man whom thou wilt, and let no man be refused by thee for me from this day forward for ever. Thus be thou lawful for any man, and this shall be to thee from me, a bill of separation, a bill of divorce, and a letter of dismission, according to the law of ~Moses~ and ~Israel~._