Question: If she was the talk of the town, how was she able to avoid being persecuted? (Please read on the old Jewish rules for unfaithfulness and divorce)
God’s answer:
Partly tied ribbon (symbol of being bound together- tie the knot)
Meaning: Saint Joseph married her. I have learned that in the Jewish tradition, to be betrothed is in essence to be married. This is why God used the word secured the knot since it was already tied.
“According to Torah law, marriage is a two-step process. The first stage is called kiddushin, loosely translated as "betrothal," and the second step is known as nisu'in, the finalization of the nuptials. Both kiddushin and nisu'in are accomplished successively beneath the chupah: the kiddushin is effected when the groom gives the bride the wedding band, and the nisu'in through "chupah" -- the husband uniting with the wife under one roof for the sake of marriage.”9