@captain tomorrow:
Marriage didn't have to do with anything about passing on property when a man dies. When a man and a woman are married, a man then has a duty to his wife to provide for her needs. Women, for thousands of years, didn't work outside the home, didn't work, didn't own property, didn't take part in economies or law or battle. They cared for the home and children.
When a woman gets married to a man, she came under his protection and provision. In fact, when the man died, the woman received no part of the inheritance. Instead, she had to be cared for by another man, often a brother of the husband, so marriage had nothing to do with inheritance rights because women were not privy to them as property passed from father to sons.
Marriage had, and still has to do with provision and protection. I am obligated, under God, to care for my wife and children, both spiritually, emotionally and physically. Simply because women have the right to work and own property (and so they should) doesn't negate my God - ordained and God - decreed command to care for those under my charge and in my house.