Parsha Math

PARSHA MATH

והוא אשה בבתוליה יקחׁ (ויקרא כא, יג)

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos states בן שמונה עזרה לחופה that 18 years old is the appropriate age for marriage.

1. Rashi and Tosfos Yom Tov on the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos point out that the word אדם appears 17 times from the beginning of Torah until the verse (Bereshis 2,23) “this shall be called Woman, since from man was she taken.” The intent is that after 17 years and a man has reached his 18th year is the proper time for him to get married.
2. The Baal haTurim on the verse (VaYikra 21,13) says that the Gematria of the word והוא is 18. Thus, at age 18, then one should take a wife for himself.
3. The Chida hints from this same verse since the last letters ח יק הבבתולי האש have the gematria of eighteen ה, ה, ח) ; 5+5+8 = 18). Thus at 18 years of age a man is ready to get married.
4. Marasha says that 18 years is roughly one-fourth of an average person’s life (seventy years). Childhood is finishing and need to move to next stage
5. Marasha says our lives parallel the path of the sun during a day. The sun reaches its zenith (high noon) after three-fourths (18) of a 24-hour cycle (beginning at nightfall).

(Do not forget that the limit given to King Dovid was 18 wives)