2,256. Marrying Early

Hilchos Issurei Biah 21:24

One of the pious men from a previous generation took pride in never looking at the place of his circumcision. Another took pride in never thinking about his wife’s shape. This was to divert their thoughts from wasteful things to words of truth that embrace the hearts of holy people.

Hilchos Issurei Biah 21:25

The Sages enacted that a person should marry off his children near the time that they mature physically because if one were to leave them unmarried, they might be tempted into promiscuous behavior or impure thoughts. Regarding this matter, Job 5:24 says, “Examine your dwelling and you won’t sin.” It’s prohibited for a woman to marry a minor because this is like promiscuity.