ght there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed
their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil;
for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest
there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell,
and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;
and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door
was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord,
open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you
not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh."

The story itself is based on oriental marriage customs, with which the
Lord's attentive listeners were familiar. It was and yet is common in
those lands, particularly in connection with marriage festivities among
the wealthy classes, for the bridegroom to go to the home of the bride,
accompanied by his friends in processional array, and later to conduct
the bride to her new home with a larger body of attendants composed of
groomsmen, bridesmaids, relatives and friends. As the bridal party
progressed, to the accompaniment of gladsome music, it was increased by
little groups who had gathered in waiting at convenient places along the
route, and particularly near the end of the course where organized
companies came forth to meet the advancing procession. Wedding
ceremonies were appointed for the evening and night hours; and the
necessary use of torches and lamps gave brilliancy and added beauty to
the scene.

In the parable ten maidens were waiting to welcome and join in with the
bridal company, the time of whose arrival was uncertain. Each had her
lamp attached to the end of a rod so as to be held aloft in the festal
march; but of the ten virgins five had wisely carried an extra supply of
oil, while the other five, probably counting on no great delay, or
assuming that they would be able to borrow from others, or perchance
having negligently given no thought at all to the matter, had no oil
except the one filling with which their lamps had been supplied at
starting. The bridegroom tarried, and the waiting maidens grew drowsy
and fell asleep. At midnight, the forerunners of the marriage party
loudly proclaimed the bridegroom's approach, and cried in haste: "Go ye
out to meet him." The ten maidens, no longer sleepy, but