A man may not reduce his provision of food, new clothes, or marital relations to his wife. The minimum required amounts of each are largely fixed at the time of marriage, and are proportionate to the man’s ability to provide. Because food and clothing are essentially financial obligations and are thus subject to contractual agreements, a man would be allowed, prior to marriage only, to stipulate as a condition of marriage that he will not provide either one; afterward, however, these cannot be diminished. But in any case he may not refuse to provide regular marital relations without his wife’s consent.
For Jews, the rabbis imposed additional obligations on both the husband and wife toward one another, and these would be good recommendations for gentiles to follow as well.