In ancient Israel, it was a tradition for the maidens of Israel to gather to dance. “This was … a ‘matrimonial holiday for youth.’ …
“Following the conclusion of their summer chores in the fields, youths would turn their attention to ‘bride-hunting,’ and the dance of the maidens … .
“Lehi and his people, of course, would have known the earlier traditions of ‘dancing and bride-hunting,’ and perhaps this sheds light on the time when the priests of Noah carried off twenty-four Lamanite daughters to be their wives” (Welch et al., “Dancing Maidens,” 139–40).