It's mostly about men not wanting to end up unknowingly supporting children that are not theirs.
But it's also about the idea that a woman's later children can be affected by earlier male sex partners.
Ancient people have always been very concerned about this. If it was simply about making sure the prospective bride was not already pregnant, they could just isolate her for six months or so (and they did.)
But even when it was certain the woman was not already pregnant, she would often be rejected as a wife simply for being married before.
When virtually every culture around the world insists that there's something to this - maybe there is. A number of animal breeders tend to believe it as well.
It's mostly about men not wanting to end up unknowingly supporting children that are not theirs.
But it's also about the idea that a woman's later children can be affected by earlier male sex partners.
Ancient people have always been very concerned about this. If it was simply about making sure the prospective bride was not already pregnant, they could just isolate her for six months or so (and they did.)
But even when it was certain the woman was not already pregnant, she would often be rejected as a wife simply for being married before.
When virtually every culture around the world insists that there's something to this - maybe there is. A number of animal breeders tend to believe it as well.