i.e., the "house-band," connecting and keeping together the whole family. A man when betrothed was esteemed from that time a husband ( Matthew 1:16 Matthew 1:20 ; Luke 2:5 ). A recently married man was exempt from going to war for "one year" ( Deuteronomy 20:7 ; 24:5 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.