POLYGYNY IN THE SCRIPTURES
COPYRIGHT JANUARY 14, 1995 All rights reserved.
Copyright 01/12/'96 (Revised)
By L. Tyler P.O. Box 620763, SanDiego, CA 92162-0763
P.O.Box 734, El Centro, CA 92244
oldservant@delphi.com
rtyle19@wavenet.com
This work is dedicated with love and honor to Carol Lynn McIntyre of Camelot (3/24/'49),
Beverly Landers Tyler(4/11/'52), Keith Adams, Diane Tava Lovelady, Lua Nguyen,
Marilyn Tyler (7/27/'49) and Paula Dugas. This is an excerpt from the master document.
IV. THE VARIOUS FORMS OF MARRIAGE IN THE BIBLE --- LET THE WORD SPEAK!
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
Gen.2: 7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man
whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree
that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst
of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. . . 15 And the LORD God took the
man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will
make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every
beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought [them] unto Adam to see
what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that [was] the
name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the
air, and to every animal of the field. But there was not found a suitable helper
for Adam.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept. And He
took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh underneath. 22 And the LORD God made
the rib (which He had taken from the man) into a woman. And He brought her to the
man.
>>>>[Is this an ideal setting for the first marriage? Do we have such a face to face
relationship with God? Had man been designated as her head/ruler yet? Had she
been told by God yet that Adam would take the lead in their marriage? Weren't they
still perfectly equal partners still? Is it realistic to take this perfect marriage-in-paradise
and hold it up as the norm and standard for us today? Wasn't it God Himself that
changed the marital relationship when they were expelled from the Garden? Does God anywhere in His Word say that this marriage-made-in-Paradise is to be our model
and standard for Godly marriage? Where? If He didn't make it the norm and the standard,
dare we make it the standard (Mark 7)?
[Is there anything in this first marriage that clearly and specifically allows only
monogyny? Is there anything in this first marriage that clearly and specifically
forbids polygyny? Is there anything in this passage that indicates that God set
monogyny up as the model we must follow? Is there anything in this passage that clearly and
specifically instructs us to follow Adam's example of monogyny?]
[The first mention of marriage in the Bible is where God miraculously provided Eve
to Adam in the Garden of God. Monogamists say that if God approved of polygyny
God would have given Eve, Eyvette, Eva and Evellyn to Adam. On the other hand, just
like with you and I, if we have more than one good option, we don't need to exercise all
of them, just the one that is best at the time. There is no quarrel with the fact
that God has ordained that the male leaders of his Church are to have one wife>33
, and that even in the Old Testament the leaders were instructed not to "multiply" wives to
themselves. To be a valid prefigure of Christ (as "the first Adam") you would expect
Adam to have one wife, just as Christ, the "last Adam", has one wife the Church.
[Footnote: >33 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1]
Gen.2: 23 And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. [She]
shall be called Woman because [she] was taken out of man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his
wife and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife;
and they were not ashamed.
Does Jesus' statement
"The two shall become
one flesh"
mean that only one man and one woman
should become one flesh, as in monogamy>57 , as
most of the "leaders" maintain? Doesn't the Spirit uses "The
two shall become one flesh" principle in 1 Corinth. 6
to show "that he who is joined to a harlot is one body
with her" , and then uses the same "one flesh"
principle in Eph. 5 about a husband and his wife?
Jerome (340-420AD) didn't indicate any problem
understanding the possibility when he wrote,
"Lamech, a man of
blood and a murderer, was the first who divided one
flesh between two wives.">58
[Footnotes:>.57 Please see THE INSTITUTES OF
BIBLICAL LAW, by R. Rushdonney, p. 363. >.58 A
Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers
of The Christian Church, Vol. VIII; p. 358.]
Since the harlot is one flesh with every fornicator she
has sexual union with and the husband is one flesh
with his wife, how can the "one flesh" principle be unique to
marriage and how can it be an argument for monogamy
or against polygyny ? Doesn't the "one flesh" principle in
physical reality describe only the result of
sexual union, whether it involve a harlot, a fornicator,
a married couple or a polygamous marriage? Weren't David,
Israel and Abraham "one flesh" with each of
their wives, just as the adulteress of Prov. 6 & 7 was
one flesh with each of her adulterers? Under the Law
by Moses, being "one flesh" could have been the basis
for marriage>11 but not so for us after the Sinai Law
of Moses was declared voided in Eph. 2 and Col. 2,
especially in the case of 1 Cor. 7:9; 1 Tm. 5:11-14, right? If
we do not control ourselves today, aren't we commanded
to marry>12 , with who to marry not specified, only
that your mate be saved>13 and godly>14?
[Footnotes: >11 (Deut. 22:22-30; Ex. 22:16,17). >12
1 Cor. 7:9,36; 1 Tim 5:14; Appendix Six of this
document. >13. 2 Corinthians 6. .>14 1 Corinthians
5:9-11; 2 Thess. 3:6-14]
Gen.3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food. and that it was
pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit,
and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 And the eyes of both
of them were opened. And they knew that they [were] naked. And they sewed fig leaves together
and made girdles for themselves. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking
in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God in the middle of the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, Where [are] you? 10 And he
said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [am] naked, and
I hid myself.
11 And He said, Who told you that you [were] naked? Have you eaten of the tree
which I commanded you that you should not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom
You gave [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate. 13 And the LORD God
said to the woman, What [is] this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived
me, and I ate.
16 To the woman He said, I will greatly increase your sorrow and your conception.
In pain you shall bear sons, and your desire shall be toward your husband, and he
shall rule over you.
17 And to Adam He said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and
have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat [of]
it! The ground [is] cursed for your sake. In pain shall you eat of it all the days
of your life. 18 It shall also bring forth thorns and thistles to you, and you shall eat the
herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return
to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you [are], and to dust you
shall return.
20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
21 And for Adam and his wife the LORD God made coats of skins, and clothed them.
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become as one of Us, to know good
and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life,
and eat, and live forever, 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden
of Eden to till the ground from which he had been taken. 24 And He drove out the man. And He
placed cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned
every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife. And she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have
gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was
a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
>>>>>[ Are they now in a whole new "universe", under a curse, mortal, subject to sickness
and weakness and a whole new way of relating to each other as a result of their sin?
Isn't there a significant change in their relationship with each other and with
God? Hadn't the ideal first marriage become a very different thing because of sin?
Didn't their world become like ours is today? Isn't this the beginning of the changes
that would take place in human matrimony? Is there anything in this first marriage
that clearly and specifically allows only monogyny? Is there anything in this first
marriage that clearly and specifically forbids polygyny? Is there anything in this
passage that indicates that God set monogyny up as the model we must follow? Is
there anything in this passage that clearly and specifically instructs us to follow Adam's
example of monogyny?]
[Leaders say that one of God's purposes in creation was that the marital standard
for man be monogamy>32 even though there is not one scripture, quoted or paraphrased,
that says that. Yet I understand a Christian elder and most of the "leaders" to
persist, apparently maintaining that there is no doubt that God's indisputable will, as
seen in the Old Testament, is monogamy.>33.
[Footnotes:>.32 Please see THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, page 362, by R. Rushdonney.;
>33. Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE ME. . . P.21]
Whether or not it is the best form of marriage for each individual depends on the
gift and the leading (Rom. 8:1-14) each individual receives from God. St. Augustine
(4th Century AD) had a gentler way of saying it that I feel more reflects the God
of Gen. 1 and 1 Cor. 13. Consider the following:
"That the good purpose of marriage, however, is better promoted by one husband with
one wife, than by a husband with several wives, is shown plainly enough by the very
first union of a married pair, which was made by the Divine Being Himself, with the
intention of marriages taking their beginning therefrom, and of its affording to them
a more honorable precedent. In the advance, however, of the human race, it came
to pass that to certain good men were united a plurality of good wives, --- many
to each; and from this it would seem that moderation sought rather unity on one side for dignity,
while nature permitted plurality on the other side for fecundity. For on natural
principles it is more feasible for one to have dominion over many, than for many
to have dominion over one."
[Footnote: >..34 2b A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The
Christian Church; Vol. V; p. 267]
Not one verse, quoted or paraphrased, says that God's purpose was that "monogamy
be the standard for man" but most of our relgious leaders teach this doctrine.
They say that Gen. 2:18-24 shows that "The normative marriage is clearly monogamous."
First that passage says nothing about Gen 2 being normative, and no other passage
in the Bible says that. None of us are commanded by God to emulate or imitate
Adam. Adam had to be unique as the first Adam just as Christ had to be unique to
be the "last Adam">35. , and being unique it is no surprise that both "Adams" have one unique
wife (the first Adam, Eve; the last Adam>36. Jesus, the Church). In the Old Testament
Jesus portrayed Himself as a polygynist>37 in accordance with His own Law governing polygyny, and as King of Kings He did not "multiply" wives to Himself. In the
New Testament as the Leader of the Church, He could have only one wife in accordance
with His own Law governing the marital status of Church leaders>4
[Footnotes:>.35. 1 Cor. 15:45-49; Romans 5:12-21. >.36. DITTO 1 Cor. 15:45-49;
Romans 5:12-21. >.37 Ezekiel 23; >.>4 Titus 1; 1 Timothy 3]
"Monogamy is implicit in the story of Adam and Eve, since God created only one wife
for Adam. Yet polygyny is adopted from the time of Lamech (Gn. 4:19), and is not
forbidden inScripture. . . ...Polygamy continues to the present day among Jews in
Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Oriental, and African countries." [Douglas' New Bible Dictionary
: MARRIAGE: .....p.787]
". . Elkanah, the husband of Hannah and Peninnah, is an interesting example of a man
of no particular position who nevertheless had more than one wife; this may be an
indication that bigamy, at least, if not polygamy, was not confined to the very wealthy
and exalted. At all events, polygyny was an established and recognized institution
from the earliest of times.">39 [Footnote: >39. HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;
p.259.]
"Polygamy meets us as a fact: e.g. Abraham, Jacob, the Judges, David, Solomon; 1 Ch
7:4 is evidence of its prevalence in Issachar; Elkanah (1 Sam.1:1ff) is significant
as belonging to the middle class; Jehoida (2 Ch 24:3) as a priest. . .Legislation
. . . safeguarded the rights of various wives, slave or free; and according to the Rabbinical
interpretation of Lv 21:13>40. . . .the high priest was not allowed to be a bigamist.
. . The marriage figure applied to the union of God and Israel . . . implied monogamy as the ideal state. . . Being .. apparently legalized, and having the advantage
of precedent, it was long before polygamy was formally forbidden in Hebrew society,
though practically it fell into disuse; the feeling of the Rabbis was strongly against
it. Herod had nine wives at once. . . Its possibility is implied by the technical
continuance of the Levirate law, [Deut. 25:5-10] and is proved by the early interpretation
of 1 Ti 3, whether correct or not. Justin reproaches the Jews of his day [A.D.]
with having 'four or even five wives,' and marrying 'as they wish, or as many as they
wish.' The evidence of the Talmud shows that in this case at least the reproach
had some foundation. Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews till the
time of R. Gershom (c. A.D. 1000), and then at first only for France and Germany. In Spain,
Italy, and the East it persisted for some time longer, as it does still among the
Jews in Mohammedan countries>41.
[Footnote: (>.(40. Septuagint Lev. 21:13 "He shall take for a wife a virgin of his
own tribe.". .>41. HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE; p.583ff.]
Eugene Nida's (American Bible Society) book Customs and Cultures>42 documents the
practice of polygyny by Christians in non Western countries, and how it is still
practiced in China, SE Asia, India, Africa and parts of South America. Eugene Nida
points out that when polygamists become Christians they are told of their limitations in
church offices and are asked not to take any additional wives because it stumbles
western Christians>5 . They are not usually asked to abandon their other wives to
a premature widowhood because of l Cor. 7:1-15.
[Footnotes:>.42 1954, Harper & Brothers, New York; >5 (Rom 14, l Cor. 8 and 10)]
The unscriptural condemnation of polygyny/concubinage by the Western Christian community
has proven to be one of the main obstacles for people in Eastern and third world
countries to accept the message of Christ, especially if Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist,
Asian, Oriental, or African, fulfilling Christ's Word in Mark 7:13 "making the word
of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered . . ." The Western
"Christian" tradition against polygyny hinders the spread of the Gospel of Christ
in Moslem and other polygynous societies.
What about all those third world folks, especially the Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian,
Oriental, and Africans, who are practicing polygyny/ concubinage and are told that
they have to dump or abandon their extra wives in order to become Christians? This
requirement keeps many from Christ and alienates many against Christ, being one of
the biggest obstacles for the Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Oriental, and African
communities. These "Christian" folks who feel their own tradition about monogamy
and polygyny must be kept by Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Oriental, and Africans and
other third world polygamists for them to become Christians, sound like the folks:
Mat. 23:13 " But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut
up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for *you* do not enter, nor do you suffer those
that are entering to go in."
The angels are waiting to rejoice over the conversion of one polygamous Moslem, Hindu,
Buddhist, Asian, Oriental, and African or third worlder. "Christian legalists and
traditionalists" wont let them into their "Christian" churches unless they sin by
(1) "dealing treacherously">6 with their wives by putting them away in repudiation,
(2) disobeying Christ's command not to leave their wives>7 , and (3) not remaining
in the marital condition in which they were called to Christ, whether it be concubinage,
polygyny or in monogamy. I understand one source to make the point has been made that
it would be brutal for the Christian community to force a polygamist to have to choose
between (1) being saved and then baptized, and (2) having his wives in legally and sociably acceptable polygyny.>43.
[Footnotes:>6 Malachi 2; >7 1 Cor. 7:11,12,13,14; ^>.^43. Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE
ME. . . P.33; [Karl Barth, CHURCH DOGMATICS, III/4, p. 203].
So what is the solution? What is God's solution? At the very least the Spirit's
Word in Paul tells us that if you, husband or wife, are saved in polygyny/concubinage,
then remain in polygyny/concubinage and accept it as God's distribution for each
person involved in particular.
1 Cor.7: 17 "However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so
let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies. . . . 20 Let each abide
in that calling in which he has been called. . . . 24 Let each, wherein he is called,
brethren, therein abide with God. . . . 26 I think then that this is good, on account
of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to remain so as he is. 27
Are you bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed; are you free from a wife? Do not
seek a wife."
ADAM'S CREATOR, JEHOVAH, LATER PRESENTED HIMSELF AS A POLYGYNIST WITH TWO WIVES.
MKJV EZEKIEL 23: 1 The word of the LORD came again to me, 2 Son of man, there were
two women, the daughters of one mother. 3 And they fornicated in
Egypt; they whored in their youth, their breasts were handled, and there their Oholibah,
her sister.
And they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters
. And their names: Samaria [is] Oholah, and Jerusalem [is] Oholibah. 5 And Oholah
whored under Me. And she lusted after her lovers, to [her] Assyrian neighbors, .
. . 18 So she uncovered her fornications and uncovered her nakedness. And My soul
was alienated from her just as My soul was alienated from her sister. 36 And the LORD said
to me: Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah, and declare to them their
abominations, 37 that
they have committed adultery
, and blood [is] on their hands? And
they have committed adultery
with their idols and have also caused their sons whom they bore to Me to pass through
the fire to them, to devour them. . . . . 45 And [as] righteous men,
they shall judge them [with] the judgment of adulteresses, and the judgment of women
who shed blood; because they [are] adulteresses, and blood [is] in their hands.
EZ 16:8 And
I swore to you and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Jehovah. And
you became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters
. And
their names: Samaria [is] Oholah, and Jerusalem [is] Oholibah. . . . . . . 20 And
you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to Me, and you gave
these to them for food. [Are] your fornications small? . . . . . . . . . 30 How
weak is your heart, says the Lord Jehovah, since you do all these, the work of a woman,
an overbearing harlot; 31 in that you build your mound at the head of every way,
and make your high place in every street. Yet you have not been as a harlot, scorning
wages. 32 [Like]
the adulterous wife,
instead of her husband, she takes strangers. 33 They give a gift to all harlots, but
you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them to come to you from all around,
for your fornication. 34 And in you was the opposite from [those] women in your fornications, since no one whores after you, and in your giving wages, and hire is not
given to you. [In] this you are opposite. . . . . . . 59 For so says the Lord Jehovah:
I will even deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking
the covenant.
60 But I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will
establish to you an everlasting covenant. 61 And you shall remember your ways and
be ashamed, when you shall receive your sisters, your older and your younger. And
I will give them to you for daughters, but not by [your] covenant. 62 And I will establish
My covenant with you; and you shall know that I [am] the LORD; 63 so that you may
remember and be ashamed; and it will not be [possible] to open [your] mouth any more
because of your shame; in that I am propitiated for all that you have done, says the Lord
Jehovah.
[Does God ever portray Himself as a sinner commiting sin? Can polygyny be a sin if
God portrays Himself as a polygynist? Is there anything in this passage that condemns
or forbids polygyny?]
[In the Old Testament Jesus, as Jehovah>34 , presents Himself as the husband of one
wife remembering their wedding day and the exchange of the vows at Mt. Sinai in the
desert>35 . Reflecting the reality of how Israel and Judah divided after Solomon
died, Jesus (as Jehovah) presents Himself as the husband of two wives
God never presents Himself as sin or sinner to us except for when holy Christ became
sin for us on the cross. In Ezek. 23, the sinners were His wives and He was righteous
as the husband of two wives. It was only two wives in accordance with His own Law
that decreed that the ruler must not multiply wives to himself. Polygyny , even God's
polygyny , is NEVER labeled or declared to be sin or sinful in the Bible.
God portrays Himself, in the fullness of His holiness, as the polygamous husband of
two wives in Ezekiel 23. I believe God was not a victim of the fall, and remains
holy in a world of sin. If "polygamy clearly appears as a product of the fall" then
why isn't there one scripture or even one verse that says that? Since there isn't, it
seems to be more men's teaching. No where does polygyny appear, in the Old or the
New Testaments, in any list of sins, list of fleshly works or list of abominations
to God. I understand Rev. Gerhard Jasper to make the following points: (1) In Old Testament
times a Jewish polygynist's marriage was fully recognized as marriage, protected
by the Law and the elders; (2) the Jewish polygynist's faith in or faithfulness
to God was not questioned because of his polygyny; (3) the polygyny of the Jewish polygynist
did not keep him from being admitted to the congregation with full membership.>44.
Moses did not forbid polygamy>8 (Dt. 21:15,16) >8 but apparently it was unusual
among average people .>45.
[Footnotes:>.f89 Please see p. 362, THE INTSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, by R. Rushdonney.
>44. Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE ME. . . P.18; (AFRICAN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Rev.
Gerhard Jasper of Lutheran Theological College in Makumira, Tanzania; Februrary 1969,
p. 41). >45. Please see THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; p. 407.]
St. Augustine (4th Century AD) had a good word on this subject. Consider the following:"That
the holy fathers of olden times after Abraham, and before him, to whom God gave His
testimony that "they pleased Him," [Heb. 11:4-6] thus used their wives, no one who is a Christian ought to doubt, since it was permitted to certain individuals
amongst them to have a plurality of wives, where the reason was for the multiplication
of their offspring, not the desire of varying gratification. . .In the advance .
. . of the human race, it came to pass that to certain good men were united a plurality
of good wives, --- many to each; and from this it would seem that moderation sought
rather unity on one side for dignity, while nature permitted plurality on the other
side for fecundity. For on natural principles it is more feasible for one to have dominion
over many, than for many to have dominion over one.">46
[Footnote: >46 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian
Church Vol. V; p. 267.]
LAMECH, THE FIRST POLYGYNIST.
Gen.4:17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a
city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And Irad
was born to Enoch. And Irad fathered Mehujael. And Mehujael fathered Methusael. And
Methusael fathered Lamech.
19 And
Lamech took two wives to himself.
The name of the first one [was] Adah, and the name of the other [was] Zillah.
As Jerome (340-420AD) put it, "Lamech, a man of blood and a murderer, was t
he first who divided one flesh between two wives."
>3 Some maintain that polygamy was much less common in the Old Testament than is
frequently thought to be the case, though its practice usually seemed to have a valid
reason >4.
[Footnotes:>39. MKJV GEN. 4: 19 ; A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers of The Christian Church,Vol. VIII; p. 358. >4. Please see THE INTERNATIONAL
BIBLE COMMENTARY; p.119.]
Have you considered what Saint Augustine said in the fourth century AD?
"But here there is no ground for a criminal
accusation: for a plurality of wives was no crime when
it was the custom; and it is a crime now, because it is
no longer the custom. There are sins against nature,
and sins against custom, and sins against the laws. In
which, then, of these senses did Jacob sin in having a
plurality of wives? As regards nature, he used the
women not for sensual gratification, but for the
procreation of children. For custom, this was the
common practice at that time in those countries. And
for the laws, no prohibition existed. The only reason
of its being a crime now to do this, is because custom
and the laws forbid it."
[Footnote: >.14 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian
Church, Vol. iv; p. 289]
THE POLYGYNOUS PATRIARCH, ABRAHAM , SARAH AND HAGAR
GEN. 16: 2 And
Sarai said to Abram,
Behold now, the LORD has kept me from
bearing. I pray you,
go in to my slave woman. It may be that I may be built by her.
And
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took
Hagar her slave woman, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife
(after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan); . . . . 9 And
the Angel of the LORD said to her [Hagar], Return to your mistress and submit yourself
under her hands.
10 And the Angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply your seed exceedingly,
so that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the Angel of the LORD said
to her, Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son. And you shall call his
name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction 12 And he will be a wild man. His
hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he shall live
in the presence of all his brothers. 13 And she called the name of the LORD who had
spoken to her, You [are] a God of vision! For she said, Even here have I looked after Him
that sees me? 14 Therefore the well was called The Well of the Living One Seeing
Me. Behold, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And
Hagar bore Abram a son
. And Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 And Abram [was] eighty-six
years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
17: 1 And when Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, I [am] the Almighty God! Walk before Me
and be perfect. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply
you exceedingly. 3
And Abram fell on his face. And
God talked with him, saying,
4 As for Me, behold! My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many
nations. 5 Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall
be Abraham. For I have made you a father of many nations. 6 And I will make you exceedingly
fruitful, greatly so, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of
you.
7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in
their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed
after you. 8 And I will give the land to you in which you are a stranger, and to
your seed after you, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. And I will be
their God. 9 And God said to Abraham, And you shall keep My covenant, you and your
seed after you in their generations. 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep,
between Me and you and your seed after you. Every male child among you shall be circumcised.
[If polygyny is a sin, why does God bless both Abraham and his two wives in their
polygny? Is there anything in this passage that specifically and clearly shows God's
disapproval of and displeasure in Abraham's polygyny?]
15 And
God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but
her name [shall be] Sarah. 16 And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her.
Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations, kings of people shall
be from her.
17 And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child]
be born to him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years
old, bear? 18 And Abraham said to God, Oh that Ishmael might live before You! 19
And
God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed. And you shall call his name
Isaac. And I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and
with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make
him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall father twelve princes,
and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac,
whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.
22 And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
[If polygyny is condemned by God and forbidden to man, then why does God bless Sarah
who influenced Abraham to become a polygynist? If Abraham's polygyny was a sin,
why did God bless the offspring of his polygyny? If Abraham's polygyny was a sin,
why did God personally talk with him and bless him so richly? Where is the condemnation
of Abraham's polygyny?]
23 And Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all that were born in his house, and all
that were bought with his silver; every male among the men of Abraham's house; and
circumcised the flesh of their foreskins in the same day, even as God said to him.
24 And Abraham [was] ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his
foreskin. 25 And his son Ishmael [was] thirteen years old [when] he was circumcised
in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were
circumcised.
GEN. 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said. And the LORD did to Sarah as
He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the
set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son
that was born to him (whom Sarah bore to him) Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac
when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
[WHERE IS THE CONDEMNATION OF ABRAHAM'S POLYGYNY? WHERE IS THE DENUNCIATION OF THE
CHILDREN OF HIS POLYGYNY?]
Gen. 21: 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian (whom she had borne to Abraham)
mocking. 10 And
she said to Abraham, Cast out this slave woman and her son.
For the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son, with Isaac. 11 And
the thing was very evil in Abraham's sight, because of his son. 12 And
God said to Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the boy and because
of your slave woman. In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice. For
in Isaac your Seed shall be called. 13 And also, I will make a nation of the son
of the slave woman, because he [is] your seed.
[WAS SHE KICKED OUT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THEIR POLYGYNY DISPLEASED GOD? WHAT IS
THE REASON SARAH GAVE FOR THE EXPULSION OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL? DID HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THEIR POLYGYNY?]
GEN. 21: 14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle
of water, and gave [it] to Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder. And he gave her the
boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15 And the water was gone in the bottle, and she cast the boy under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went and sat down across from him, a good way off, about a bowshot. For
she said, Let me not see the death of the boy. And she sat across from him, and lifted up her voice, and cried. 17 And
God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of the heavens,
and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of
the boy where he is. 18 Rise up, lift up the boy and hold him up with your hand,
for I will make him a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of
water; and she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave drink to the boy.
20 And God was with the boy, and he grew, and lived in the wilderness, and became
an archer.
21 And he lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him out
of the land of Egypt.
[WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT GOD CONDEMNED OR PUNISHED HAGAR AND ISHMAEL FOR THEIR POLYGYNY?
If their polygyny were a sin, why did God take such good care of them and promise
them such great blessings?]
Gen.22: 20 And it happened after these things that it was told Abraham, saying,
Behold Milcah! She also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his first-born,
and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 and Chesed, and Hazo, and
Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel fathered Rebekah.
These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 And his concubine, named Reumah,
she also bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Gen. 23: 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave at the field
of Machpelah before Mamre, which [is] Hebron, in the land of Canaan.
Gen. 25: 1 Then again
Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2 And she bore him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 And Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim
and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian: Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. All these [were] the sons of Keturah. 5 And Abraham gave all that he had to
Isaac. 6 But to the sons of the
concubines
which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts. And he sent them away from Isaac his son while
he still lived, eastward to the east country.
1 Chronicles 1: 32 And the sons of
Keturah, Abraham's concubine
: She bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And
the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 33 And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher,
and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [are] the sons of Keturah.
[Where is God's denunciation of Abraham for having concubines? Where is God's denunciation
of the concubines for marrying Abraham? Where is Abraham's confession of his sin,
if polygyny is sinful as some say?]
Have you considered the following?
". . . a man's 'house' might consist of his mother; his
wives and the wives' children; his concbines and their
children . . . and slaves of both sexes. Polygamy was
in part the cause of the large size of the Hebrew
household; in part thecause of it may be found in the
insecurity of early times, when safety lay in numbers
. . . Polygyny and bigamy were recognized features of
the family life. From the Oriental point of view there
was nothing immoral in the practice of polygamy.
The female slaves were in every respect the property
of their master and became his concubines; except in
certain cases, when they seem to have belonged
exclusively to their mistress . . . At all events,
polygyny was an established and recognized
institution form the earliest times">8 HASTINGS
DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE; p.259.
Eerdmans' Douglas' New Bible Dictionary: "Concubine.
A secondary wife acquired by purchase or as a war
captive, and allowed in polygamous society such as
existed in the Middle east in biblical times....Where
marriages produced no heir, wives presented a slave
concubine too their husbands in order to raise an heir
(Gen. 16). Handmaidens, given as a marriage gift,
were often concubines (Gen. 29:24,29). Concubines
were protected under Mosaic law (Exod. 21:7-11; Dt.
21:10-14), though they were distinguished from
wives (Jdg. 8:31) and were more easily divorced
(Gen.21:10-14)."
[Footnote: >10. 1962, IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas; W. B.
Eerdmans Publishing]
FUNK & WAGNALLS NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA:
CONCUBINAGE, "refers to the cohabitation of a man
and a woman without sanction of legal marriage.
Specifically, concubinage is a form of polygyny in
which the primary matrimonial relationship is
supplemented by one or more secondary sexual
relationships. Concubinage was a legally sanctioned
and socially acceptable practice in ancient cultures,
including that of the Hebrews; concubines, however,
were denied the protection to which a legal wife was
entitled. . .. In Roman law, marriage was precisely
defined as monogamous; concubinage was tolerated,
but the concubine's status was inferior to that of a
legal wife. Her children had certain rights, including
support by the father and legitimacy in the event of
the marriage of the parents" [>11 1986, Funk &
Wagnalls]
HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE: "The relative
positions of wives and concubines were determined
mainly by the husband's favour. The children of the
wife claimed the greater part, or the whole, of the
inheritance; otherwise there does not seem to have
been any inferiority in the position of the concubine
as compared with that of the wife, nor was any idea
of illegitimacy, in our sense of the word, connected
with her children. . . . The female slaves were in every
respect the property of their master, and became his
concubines; except in certain cases, when they seem
to have belonged exclusively to their mistress, and
could not be appropriated by the man except by her
suggestion or consent (Gn 16:2,3). The slave-
concubines were obtained as booty in time of war (Jg
5:30), or bought from poverty-stricken parents (Ex
21:7); or, possibly, in the ordinary slave traffic with
foreign nations." >12
[Footnote: >12. HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;
p.259.]
" The difference between a wife and a concubine
depended on the wife's higher position and birth,
usually backed by relatives ready to defend her." >13
[Footnote: >13. 1989, HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE
BIBLE; p.585.]
For this paper a distinction is made between a mistress and a concubine. I understand
a mistress to mean a human female who has sexual (breast &/or vagina) intimacy with
another human with whom she has no marital covenants/vows/ commitment. So a mistress
is in the same category as a whore, harlot, prostitue etc. except that she might be
having sexual intimacy with only one person during a specific period. I attempt
to show at length, later in the paper, that in the Bible a concubine has the status
of a wife, even though it may be by informal marital covenants/vows/ commitments. And so,
continuing the discussion . . . . Having one wife/concubine is said to significantly
complicate one's life and distract one who is waiting on God>37 , so of course we
understand that any godly man with more than one wife/concubine would be significantly
more distracted from waiting on God and would have a significantly greater struggle
in his spiritual life with God. In the New Testament in accordance with His law for
church leaders, Jesus presents Himself to His people as having only one wife, the Church>38
because believing Jews and believing Gentiles were reconciled into one Body, the
Church, to be one unified and united Bride to Christ.
[Footnotes:>37 1 Cor. 7; >38 (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) ]
In the Bible's reality is a concubine the same as a mistress? In the following paragraphs
I believe you will see that a concubine has marital status in God's eyes even though
socially and culturally she doen't have as high a status as a wife who was married publicly and according to the laws of the culture. The difference between a wife
and a concubine is discussed in the next paragraph. On the other hand a mistress
is a female who lets "her man" relate to her sexually by means of her breasts>50
and/or genitals>51 without them making or agreeing to any marital "for life" commitments
or covenants>52. So a mistress provides sex and affection to her partner without
marital commitments or covenants.
[Footnotes:>50 Prov. 5:19,20,21; Ezek.23:3,8,21; >51 1 Cor. 6:15,16, 17,18;
>52 Prov. 2:16,17,18,19; 5:3,4,5,6; 6:24,25,26; 7; Ezek. 16; 23]
The only differences I can detect between a concubine and a wife are: (1) that the
concubine's marriage is confirmed by a solemn covenant between the husband and concubine>53
without a public wedding, (2) the concubine's rights were protected by God (see below), and (3) their status as concubines spared them certain penalties>54 . The
Holy Spirit by the writer of Judges 19 declared the Levite to be the concubine's
"husband", declared the father of the concubine to be the Levite's "father-in-law",
and declared the Levite to be the "son-in-law" of the concubine's father. This is a very
strong legitimization of the husband-concubine marital status. It is the same legitimization
of the relationship that the Holy Spirit used in Matthew 1, calling the espoused Mary "wife" and the espoused Joseph "husband". If God so recognizes them and describes
them, then who are we to do any less. By the Holy Spirit here in Judges 19 we see
that a concubine had a "husband" who was the "son-in-law" of her father, his "father-in-law". A wife has a "husband" who is the "son-in-law" of her father, her husband's
"father-in-law".
[Footnotes:>53 (Ezek. 16 and Malachi 2); >54 (Lev. 19:20 vs. Deut. 22)]
Sarai gave her slave/maid "to her husband Abram to be his wife", not concubine, but
"wife". Consider the following points that appear to be made in one commentary:
(1) It was Sarai's idea>* ; (2) it was a common at the time for a wife to obligate
herself to get an heir by providing a slave girl to her husband so he could have his heir
by the slave girl; (3) this was legal but left a tangle of emotions due to the heartlessness
of conventional law; (4) polygamous marriages cause damage of
a psychological nature; (5) there is no reproof of Abram for fathering Ishmael who,
in his turn, was blessed of God and became the father of an important nation.>5.
By the way there is no proof or documentation given that proves that polygamous
marriages cause psychological damage.
[Footnotes:>* MKJV GEN. 16: 2 And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the LORD has kept
me from bearing. I pray you, go in to my slave woman. It may be that I may be built
by her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took
Hagar her slave woman, the Egyptian, and gave her to her
husband Abram to be his wife (after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan);
>5. THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; Editor, F.F.Bruce; pp. 126ff]
I understand the same commentary to make these points: (1) Abraham was reluctant because
of the customs and the laws of his society, valid concerns about his reputation;
(2) very old documentation reveals that normally it was not correct or legal to get
rid of one's concubine and children in this way; (3)
God intervened and instructed him so that he was assured that Ishmael's rights and
his mother's prospects were ensured.>6.
[Footnote: >6. THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; Editor, F.F.Bruce; p. 129]
Yes it is obvious that Sarai apparently acted on her own and there was no divine guidance
in this move, but there was also no divine condemnation. God intervened and sent
Hagar back into the marital situation with Abram and Sarai>41 When God next spoke
to Abraham>42 there was no condemnation of his polygyny , but instead God blessed
him with an even greater blessing than before. In response to the blessing he takes
his son by Hagar and circumcised him>43 . But I understand a Christian elder
to maintain that there was no blessing from God on Abraham's polygamy, that the Biblical record
of it is a criticism of Abraham's conduct. >7. He gives no references so look at
the Word for yourselves -- "in all things the Lord had blessed Abraham" (Gen. 24:1).
[Footnotes:>41 (Gen 16:9-16.); >42 (Gen. 17:1--); >43 (Gen. 17:23-25);
>7. MY WIFE MADE ME. . . .p.20.]
Consider the following:
". . . a man's 'house' might consist of his mother; his wives and the wives' children;
his concbines and their children . . . and slaves of both sexes. Polygamy was in
part the cause of the large size of the Hebrew household; in part thecause of it
may be found in the insecurity of early times, when safety lay in numbers . . . Polygyny
and bigamy were recognized features of the family life. From the Oriental point
of view there was nothing immoral in the practice of polygamy. The female slaves
were in every respect the property of their master and became his concubines; except in certain
cases, when they seem to have belonged exclusively to their mistress . . . At all
events, polygyny was an established and recognized institution form the earliest
times">8 HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE; p.259.
God blessed Sarah with fertility in polygyny>44 and God blessed Hagar and Ishmael
even though she was cast out of Sarah's house at Sarah's confirmed request because
of the question of an heir, not polygyny>45 . Abraham had another concubine after
Hagar, named Keturah>46 by whom Abraham had six children without any condemnation or
denunciation by God. What about a Christian elder's apparent assertion that polygamy
is a breeding ground for contemptuous, jealous, quarrelsome conduct in a marriage
resulting in alienation between wife and husband<9 Forgive me if I sound a little naive
(I'm only in my 50's and have experienced marriage for only 24 years) but divorce
court records and sociological studies of divorce indicate that those vices are quite
common in monogamy in America today. Does that make monogamy evil? I think not. Contempt,
jealousy, quarreling and estrangement are sinful works of the flesh and need to be
dealt with Spiritually, just like any other sins involving more than one person.
Sin and the flesh are the evils, not polygamy or monogamy.
[Footnotes:>44 (Gen 21:1-7); >45 (Gen. 21); >46 (1 Chron.1:32) ; >9. See
Gen. 16 and 21 as well as HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;p.259]
ESAU'S POLYGYNY
Genesis 26: 34 And Esau was forty years old when
he took to wife Judith
the daughter of Beeri the Hittite,
and Basemath the daughter of Elon
the Hittite; 35 who were a grief of spirit to Isaac and to Rebekah.
Gen. 28: 8 and when Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please Isaac his
father; 9 then Esau went to Ishmael,
and took Mahalath
the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth,
to the wives [which] he [had] for his wife
.
Gen.36: 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son. And she bore to Eliphaz
Amalek.
THE POLYGYNOUS PATRIARCH JACOB, HIS WIVES & CONCUBINES.
Were these Old Testament saints less Godly than we?
I think not. But what of those who say that having
more than one wife in those days was a falling short
of the will of God and reflected a weakness in the
character of those who participated in polygyny? St.
Augustine has a good word on that, as follows:
"But those who have not the virtues of temperance
must not be allowed to judge of the conduct of holy
men, any more than those in fever of the sweetness
and wholesomeness of food. . . If our critics, then,
wish to attain not a spurious and affected, but a
genuine and sound moral health, let them find a cure
in believing the Scripture record, that the honorable
name of saint is given not without reason to men who
had several wives; and that the reason is this, that the
mind can exercise such control over the flesh as not to
allow the appetite implanted in our nature by
Providence to go beyond the limits of deliberate
intention. . . . the holy patriarchs in their conjugal
intercourse were actuated not by the love of pleasure,
but by the intelligent desire for the continuance of
their family. . . .nor did the number of their wives
make the patriarchs licentious. But why defend the
husbands, to whose character the divine word bears
the highest testimony. . . ."
[Footnote: >.23 A Select Library of the Nicene and
Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. iv;
p.290]
Gen. 29: 21 And
Jacob said to Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, so that I may
go in to her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And
it happened in the evening,
he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him. And he went in to her.
24 And Laban gave Zilpah his slave woman to his daughter Leah for a handmaid. 25 And
it happened in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah! And he said to Laban, What [is]
this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you
tricked me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger
before the first-born. 27
Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also
for the service which you shall serve with me still another seven years. 28 And
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week
. And
he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave Bilhah his slave woman to his daughter Rachel, to be her handmaid.
30 And he also went in to Rachel. He also loved Rachel more than Leah, and served
with him still seven more years.
31 And
when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, even He opened her womb.
But Rachel [was] barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son.
Gen. 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her
sister. And she said to Jacob, Give me sons, or else I will die. 2 And Jacob's anger
was kindled against Rachel. And he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from
you the fruit of the womb? 3 And
she said, Behold my slave woman Bilhah; go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees,
and yea, let me be built up from her,
me also. 4 And
she gave him her slave woman Bilhah to wife.
And Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
. . . 9
When Leah saw that she had quit bearing, she took her slave woman Zilpah and gave
her to Jacob to wife. 10 And Leah's slave woman Zilpah bore Jacob a son. . . .
. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening. And Leah went out to meet him,
and said, You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's love-apples.
And he lay with her that night. 17 And
God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob the fifth
son. . . . . 22
And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
. . . . . 26[And Jacob said to Laban] Give me my wives and my children, [for] whom
I have served you, and let me go. For you know my service which I have done you.
Gen.31: 3 And the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers, and to your
kindred, and I will be with you.
[If polygyny is the sin that some say it is, why did God intervene to help Leah conceive?
Why did God remember and bless Rachel when she influenced Jacob to have a third
wife? Why did God listen to Leah's prayer after she influenced Jacob to have a fourth wife? If polygyny is unacceptable to God, then why did the Lord speak to Jacob
and promise to bless him with His abiding presence?]
Gen 32: 1 And Jacob went on his way, and
the angels of God met him
. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, This [is] God's camp. And he called the name
of that place Refuge. . . . . . .24 And Jacob was left alone. And a Man wrestled
there with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when He saw that He did not
prevail against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh. And the hollow of Jacob's thigh was
out of joint as he wrestled with Him. 26 And He said, Let Me go, for the day breaks.
And he said, I will not let You go except You bless me. 27 And
He said to him, What [is] your name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And He said, Your name
shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for like a prince you have power with
God and with men, and have prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked and said, I pray You, reveal
Your name. And He said, Why do you ask after My name? And He blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face,
and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him,
and he limped upon his thigh.
>>>>>[Why would God allow his angels to meet Jacob, since he was practicing polygyny
with four wives? Why did Jesus wrestle with Jacob, and bless Him with a new and
significant name, if Jacob was under God's judgment for practicing polygyny? Exactly
where is God's denunciation and disapproval Jacob's polygyny expressed?
Jacob marries Rachel and Leah>58 , and goes on to have children by his concubines
as well>59. Sure, treachery was involved in the Rachel and Leah marriage, but
it appears that the treachery stands alone as the evil since at the first mention
of the polygyny option,>60 Jacob has no moral objection and nowhere does God denounce the
development. Yes Lev. 18:18 shows that much later in the time of Moses, God forbade
two sisters being wives to one husband at one time and makes rivalry the issue.
God deliberately involved Himself in the polygyny of Jacob by blessing Leah with fertility>61.
God repeated himself in this way with the mother of Samuel without denouncing her
polygyny>62 . God intervened and granted fertility to Rachel in her polygyny>63
. God not only blesses Jacob with fertility but also with miraculous prosperity in his
polygyny> 64 . God not only blessed Jacob in his polygyny but also delivered him
from evil and harm as a polygynist>65
[Footnotes:>58 in Gen 29 & 30; >59 (Gen. 35:22; 37:2);. >60 (Gn. 29:27,29).
>61 (Gn. 29:31,32; 30:17); >62 (l Sam 1:1-6); >63 (Gn. 30:22); >64 (Gn.
30:41-31:10); >65 (Gn. 31:24, 29,42)
In spite of this Biblical record of God's blessings on Jacob, I understand a brother
to write that Jacob experienced only troublesome times with Rachel and Leah, and
that they were angry, envious, and hateful rivals.>15. Only troublesome times?
What about all of God's miraculous provision and prospering their family experienced directly
from God's intervention? What about their cooperation, their love, trust and loyalty
for Jacob when he was in conflict with their father and then with Esau? Maybe their polygyny lacked the sweet bliss and loving harmony of Solomon's early polygyny >66
, but there is no passage that Rachel and Leah only had troublesome times.
[Footnotes:>15. Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE ME. . ; p. 20; >66 (Song of Songs 6:4-9)]
I wish I had some of that trouble in my life! What about the rivalry? God saw the
destructive potential of such sibling rigalry and made the law that a polygynist
should not marry the sister of his wife >67 . He did not condemn the man for being
a polygynist, He just indicated that the man as polygynist should not marry his wife's sister
while she lived. What about the hatred, envy and anger? Well folks, I don't mean
to be redundant, but we see those sins in monogamy, between sisters, between brothers
(Cain & Abel) and between children and parents (Absalom and David) then and today.
If you aren't aware of that, then I have to ask you if you were raised by Robinson
Crusoe on some island.
[Footnote: >67 (Lev. 18:18)]
PATRIARCHAL POLYGYNY
1 Chronicles 2: 4 And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the
sons of Judah [were] five. 5 The sons of Pharez: Hezron and Hamul.
9 And the sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
18 And Caleb the son of Hezron
fathered [sons] of Azubah [his] wife, and of Jerioth.
Her sons [are] these: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19 And when Azubah died,
Caleb took Ephrath to himself, who bore him Hur.
. . . . . . 46 And
Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran,
and Moza, and Gazez. And Haran fathered Gazez. 47 And the sons of Jahdai: Regem and
Jotham and Geshan and Pelet and Ephah and Shaaph. 48
Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber,
and Tirhanah. 49 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of
Machbenah, and the father of Gibea. And Caleb's daughter [was] Achsah. 50 These were
the sons of Caleb the son of Hur. The first-born of Ephratah [was] Shobal the father
of Kirjath-jearim; 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
1 Chronicles 4: 1 The sons of Judah [were] Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and
Shobal. . . . . . .These [are] the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephratah, the
father of Bethlehem. 5 And
Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
1 Chronicles 7:14 The sons of
Manasseh: Ashriel, the son born to his Syrian concubine with Machir the father of
Gilead,
15 and Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim; and the name of his sister [was]
Maachah. And the name of the second [was] Zelophehad. And Zelophehad had daughters.
16
And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son,
and she called his name Peresh. And the name of his brother [was] Sheresh, and his
sons [were] Ulam and Rakem.
1 Chronicles 8: 8 And
Shaharaim fathered [sons] in the land of Moab, after he had sent them away. Hushim
and Baara [were] his wives. 9 And by his wife Hodesh,
[were] Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham, 10 and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma.
These [were] his sons, heads of the fathers.
[Exactly where is God's denunciation and disapproval of the patriarchs' polygyny expressed?
Consider what Saint Augustine said in the fourth century AD.
"But here there is no ground for a criminal accusation: for a plurality of wives was
no crime when it was the custom; and it is a crime now, because it is no longer the
custom. There are sins against nature, and sins against custom, and sins against
the laws. In which, then, of these senses did Jacob sin in having a plurality of wives?
As regards nature, he used the women not for sensual gratification, but for the
procreation of children. For custom, this was the common practice at that time in
those countries. And for the laws, no prohibition existed. The only reason of its being
a crime now to do this, is because custom and the laws forbid it."
[Footnote: >.14 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian
Church, Vol. iv; p. 289]
I hope that dear brother Augustine is having a wonderful time in Heaven. I also hope
that Jesus has shared with Him meaning of Prov. 5:18, 19----- a husband's sensual
gratification by and with his wife's breasts, being enraptured and intoxicated with
and by her lovemaking; the sensual gratification of the marital joys of the Song of
Solomon; the joyful marital living of Eccles. 9:7,8,9; and the sensual gratification
of the blissful exchange of intimate marital affection required in 1 Cor. 7:2,3,4,5.
I don't understand how he could have missed these obvious God given instructions to
blissfully and wholeheartedly love our mates in marriage.
The maidservant status of Hagar and Jacob's wives is clothed in marital status>74
. It is a profound statement that in all of the explicit moral injunctions of Lev.
18, 19, &20; Deut 12 & 27 there is not one denunciation of polygyny or concubinage.
Concubinage apparently, because it involved maidservants, seems to have a lower status
as reflected in Ex. 21:7-9 with Lev. 19:20 in contrast to Deut. 22:23-26.]
GOD GAVE MOSES RULES ABOUT POLYGYNY
*Exodus 21:7 And if a man sells his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go
out as the menservants do. 8 If she does not please
her master, who has betrothed her to himself,
then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no power to sell her to a strange
nation, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he has betrothed her to
his son, he shall deal with her as with daughters. 10
If he takes himself another [wife], her food, her clothing, and her duty of marriage
shall not be lessened.
11 And if he does not do these three to her, then she shall go out free without money.
[If polygyny is a sin, why doesn't God forbid the men from taking an additional wife?
If polygyny is unacceptable to God, why does He instruct men what He requires of
them if they take an additional wife? If polygyny is sin, where is His command that
a woman not marry a man who already has a wife?]
*Leviticus 18: 17 The nakedness of a woman and her daughter shalt thou not uncover;
thou shalt not take her son's daughter, nor her daughter's daughter, to uncover her
nakedness: they are her near relations: it is wickedness. 18 And t
hou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness beside
her, during her life.
[darby]
"And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival
to her . . .. beside the other in her lifetime.">47
[Footnote: >.47 The Holy Scriptures, Masoretic Text]
"Thou shalt not take a wife in addition to her sister, as
a rival . . in opposition to her, while she is yet
living.">48
[Footnote: >.48 The Septuagint Version, 1972]
"And you shall not take to wife a sister of your wife,
to distress her. . ..beside the other in her lifetime.">49
[Footnote: >.49 The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern
Manuscripts]
"And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a
rival to her , . . ...besides the other in her life-
time.">50
[Footnote: >.50 American Standard Version 1901 &
1929]
"You must not marry a woman in addition to her
sister, to be a rival to her. . . .when the first one is
alive.">51
[Footnote: >.51 Amplified Bible, 1965, Zondervan
Publishing House.]
The New King James Version agrees with the meaning
of those above.The New International Version agrees
with the meaning of those above. >53
[Footnote: >.53 HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION.]
[Can Lev. 18:18 be used to condemn polygyny, or does it forbid being married to two
blood sisters at the same time? Is the issue here that of marrying sisters, or is
the issue polygyny? I SEE A PROHIBITION OF RACHEL+LEAH MARRIAGES INVOLVING TWO SISTERS
BEING MARRIED TO THE SAME HUSBAND, BUT WHERE IS THE IMPLIED PROHIBITION OF POLYGYNY?
It seems to me that God is simply prohibiting a husband from marrying the sister
in-the-flesh of his wife.
Does it apply to sisters in the Spirit? The obediently believing Israelite women
were as much sisters in the Lord as are the Christian women sisters in the Spirit
and there was no prohibition against them being in polygynist marriages like King
David's. Are you willing to add to the scripture to support the tradition of men?
*De 17:15 "You shall only set him king
over you whom Jehovah your God will choose: from
among your brethren shall you set a king over you; .
. . 16 Only
he shall not multiply horses to himself,
. . .
17
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, t
hat his
heart turn not away;
neither shall he greatly multiply
to himself silver and gold.
"
[If this passage is used to make a case against polygyny, shouldn't it also be used
to make a case that the king should have only one horse, only one bar of gold, and
only one bar of silver?]
God's Law forbade a king from "multiplying" wives>.75 to himself without making such
a command to we nonkings. It appears from later scripture about Godly and God blessed
kings of Israel that God makes a distinction between MULTIPLYING wives & horses to yourself and adding wives & horses to yourself. None of us object to King David
having more than one horse but many object to King David having more than one wife,
yet it is the same command "he shall not multilply hoses . . . wives to himself."
By 2 Samuel 5-12 God had "given" him seven wives plus a number of concubines. We see His
implied blessing on David's polygyny . This implied blessing of his polygyny would
have to mean that David, with concubines and seven wives, had not yet violated the
prohibition against a king multiplying wives and horses to himself.
[Footnotes:>75 De 17:15 "You shall only set him king over you whom Jehovah your
God will choose: from among your brethren shall you set a king over you; . . .
16 Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, . . . 17 Neither shall he multiply
wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself
silver and gold." NO PROHIBITION FROM HAVING SOME HORSES , SOME WIVES and some gold]
*Deut. 21:15 "
If a man have two wives,
one beloved,
and one hated, and they have borne him children,
[both] the beloved and the hated, and [if] the first-
born son be hers that was hated; 16 then it shall be,
in the day that he makes his sons to inherit [that]
which he has, [that] he may not make the son of the
beloved first-born before the son of the hated, who is
the first-born; 17 but he shall acknowledge as first-
born the son of the hated, by giving him a double
portion of all that he has; for he is the firstfruits of his
strength: the right of the firstborn is his."
[If God condemns polygyny, why does he not only allow a man to have two wives, but
he actually legislates the right of one wife's child over the right of the other
wife's child? If the children are children of polygyny, why would God give them
any rights at all, if it is such a sin as some say?]
I understand Rev. Gerhard Jasper to make the following points:
(1) In Old Testament times a Jewish polygynist's marriage was fully recognized as
marriage, protected by the Law and the elders;
(2) the Jewish polygynist's faith in or faithfulness to God was not
questioned because of his polygyny;
(3) the polygyny of the Jewish polygynist did not keep him from being
admitted to the congregation with full membership.>44. Moses did not forbid polygamy>8
(Dt. 21:15,16) >8 but apparently it was unusual
among average people .>45.
[Footnotes:>.f89 Please see p. 362, THE INTSTITUTES
OF BIBLICAL LAW, by R. Rushdonney. >44.
Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE ME. . . P.18; (AFRICAN
THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Rev. Gerhard Jasper of
Lutheran Theological College in Makumira, Tanzania;
Februrary 1969, p. 41). >45. Please see THE
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; p. 407.]
It was expected that the female slave would become her master's wife or concubine,
or become the wife or concubine of her master's son, and the law protected her rights
if he was unwilling to do so.>16. Her owner could not sell her to foreigners because he had "trifled" with her (see LXX), "seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.">17.
[Footnotes:>16. Please see the discussion in THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY;
p.126ff & p.172ff.; >17. Ex. 21:8; The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic
Text].
He legislated polygyny without one word or hint of condemnation. If polygyny were
sin, why didn't God condemn it instead of putting the royal seal of His holy Law
on it? God's designated and anointed leaders freely and openly practiced it (Abraham,
Jacob, David, Jehoida the priest, and God in Ezekiel 23). Where in the Bible does he
find an Old Testament writer embarrassed to report polygamy? If you know of a single
passage that clearly and explicitly states that, please let me know. How can any
Old Testament writer be embarrassed of something God sanctioned and legislated, and that
His designated and anointed leaders freely and openly practiced with God's obvious
and abundant blessing in their lives (see the next section)? The Old Testament writers
untiringly and realistically show the negativity of polygamy? Abram and Sarai, Rachel
and Leah had problems, as did Hannah and so did Solomon, but even with these four
there is no untiring and relentless criticism of polygamy? I couldn't find it.
In the next section, covering thousands of years and each major period of Jewish history there
is no such relentless criticism of polygyny found in the Bible.
POLYGYNY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE JUDGES
Judges 8: 29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30
And Gideon had seventy sons, begotten of his body. For
he had many wives.
31
And his concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son
whose name he called Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old
age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah [of] the Abiezrites.
>>>>>[If Gideon were in open sin as a polygynist, why did God choose him to lead Israel,
and grant him success in his confrontation of the enemy? Where is God's explicit
and specific denunciation of Gideon's polygny?
Gideon had MANY WIVES, was blessed and used of God without any condemnation/denunciation
from God about his polygyny>77 . A dear brother apparently states, of Gideon's
(Jerubbaal's ) son Abimelech, that polygamy actually lead to murder in Judg. 9:5
>18. Excuse me! With logic like that I guess you would have to say that the monogamy
of Adam and Eve led Cain to murder Abel. I think not. Jesus makes it clear that
murder comes from the murderer's heart >78 or from the inner working of the evil
ones>79 , but not from monogamy or polygamy. The problem is sin and the flesh, not polygamy.
[Footnotes:>77 (Judges 8:29-32); >18. Trobisch; MY WIFE MADE ME>.>.>.p. 20;
>78 (Matt. 15:18,19); >79 (Eph. 2:1,2; 6:12)]
Judges 19:1 "And it came to pass in those days,
when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a
certain Levite, . . .
who took to him a concubine
out of
Bethlehem-Judah. 2 And his concubine played the
whore against him, and went away from him to her
father's house to Bethlehem-Judah, and was there
four whole months. 3 And
HER HUSBAND
rose up and
went after her, to speak friendly to her, [and] to bring
her again; . . . And she brought him into her father's
house; and when the father of the damsel saw him he
rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his
FATHER-IN-LAW,
the damsel's father, retained him, and he abode with
him three days; . . .5 . . . And the damsel's father said
to his
SON-IN-LAW
, . ."
[If a concubine is not a legitimate wife, then why does God call the Levite "her husband",
and why does God call her father the Levite's "father-in-law"?
If a concubine is a harlot in God's eyes, then why was the outrage so universal and
so right in their eyes, their outrage against the sexual abuse and sexual murder
of his concubine? The death of a harlot or an adulteress was expected and accepted
as righteous by Israel, so why wasn't that the case in the sexual murder of the Levite's
concubine?
What about the Levite's? These keepers of the tabernacle, did they have special rules
that kept them from polygyny? Not according to the following, because when his concubine
was mercilessly murdered by rape, the nation of Israel rose to vindicate him and avenge her murder.
SO A CONCUBINE IS NOT A HARLOT. Just like any other wife, she can become a harlot
while married (Ezek. 16 and Hosea). HARLOTRY IS AN EVIL THAT EITHER A WIFE OR A
CONCUBINE CAN PRACTICE WHILE MARRIED. Not only is a concubine not a harlot, the
Holy Spirit by the writer of the book of Judges declared the Levite to be the concubine's "husband",
declared the father of the concubine to be the Levite's "father-in-law", and declared
the Levite to be the "son-in-law" of the concubine's father. This is a very strong legitimization of the husband-concubine marital status. It is the same legitimization
of the relationship that the Holy Spirit used in Matthew 1, calling the espoused
Mary "wife" and the espoused Joseph "husband". If God so recognizes them and describes them, then who are we to do any less. By the Holy Spirit here in Judges 19
we see that a concubine had a "husband" who was the "son-in-law" of her father, his
"father-in-law". A wife has a "husband" who is the "son-in-law" of her father, her
husband's "father-in-law".
1 Sam. 1: 1 And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim from the hills of Ephraim,
and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu,
the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 And
he had two wives, the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the second, Peninnah.
And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 And this man went up out
of his city from year to year, to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in
Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were]
there.4 And the time came that Elkanah offered, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife,
and to all her sons and her daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave one double portion,
for he loved Hannah. But the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her foe also provoked her grievously, in order to make her tremble, because
the LORD had shut up her womb. 7 And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up
to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her. And she wept and did not eat. 8 And
Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why
is your heart grieved? [Am] I not better to you than ten sons?
9 And Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drunk.
And Eli the priest sat on the seat by the side post of the temple of the LORD. 10
And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept sorely.
11 And she vowed a vow and said, O, Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look upon the affliction
of Your handmaid and remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to
Your handmaid a man-child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life,
and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it happened as she continued praying
before the LORD, Eli noticed her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart, only her
lips moved, but her voice was not heard. And Eli thought she had become drunk. 14
And Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you! 15 And Hannah
answered, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have neither drunk
wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not count
your handmaid for a daughter of wickedness, for out of the abundance of my meditation
and grief I have spoken until now. 17 And Eli answered and said, Go in peace, and
the God of Israel grant [to you] your petition that you have asked of Him. 18 And
she said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate,
and her face was no longer [sad].
[If her polygyny were an evil thing, why would Eli bless her and ask God to grant
her request?]
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before the LORD, and returned,
and came to their house to Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and
the LORD remembered her.
20 And it happened when the time had come around, Hannah conceived and bore a son
and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.
>>>[Why would the Lord remember her if she were in sin because of her polygyny? Why
would God bless her and answer her prayer, if her polygyny were a sin and an evil
in the eyes of God? Where is God's explicit and specific condemnation of this family's
polygyny?
Hannah, the wife of polygamous Elkanah, received the same intervention and blessing
from God that Sarah, Rachel and Leah received in their polygyny>80 . Her problem
with her co-wife and her own infertility is quite similar to Abraham and Sarah's
experience. The co-wife had a sin problem, and it was her problem, not a polygyny problem.
You find the same sinful behavior today between sisters, brothers, wives in social
groups, wives socializing in church or work settings. Sin and the flesh are the
problems, not polygyny.
[Footnote: >80 (l Sam. 1:1-19)]
]
POLYGYNY UNDER THE LEAD OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL
Consider St. Augustine's point in the following:
" . . . no one doubts . . . who reads with careful attention what use they made of
their wives, at a time when also it was allowed one man to have several, whom he
had with more chastity than any now has his one wife . . . But then they married
even several without any blame . . ">65
[Footnotes:>..65 St. Augustin: On The Trinity; p. 406.]
2 Samuel 3: 7 And
Saul had a concubine
whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why
have you gone in to my father's concubine? 8 And Abner was very angry over the words
of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a dog's head, who shows kindness against Judah this
day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not
delivered you into the hand of David? [Am] I a dog's head that you charge me today
with a fault concerning this woman today?
>>>>[If a concubine is just a harlot as some say, then why all the fuss? Why is the
offense give the status of being indiscreet with another's wife, if a concubine is
just a harlot? If polygyny is a sin, as is consulting mediums (for which Saul was
clearly condemned), then why isn't his having a concubine dealt with in the same manner
as his other sins?]
DAVID'S SEVEN WIVES AND HIS TEN CONCUBINES.
1 Samuel 18: 27 And David arose and went forth, he and his men. And [they] killed
two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave
them in full number to the king so that he might be the king's son-in-law.
And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 And Saul saw and knew that the
LORD [was] with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.
1 Samuel 25: 42 And Abigail hurried and arose, and rode on an ass, with five of her
maidens who went after her. And
she followed the messengers of David and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam
of Jezreel. And they became, both of them, his wives. 44 And Saul gave his daughter
Michal, David's wife, to Phalti t
he son of Laish, who [was] of Gallim.
2 Samuel 3: 1 And there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David. But David [became] stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker
and weaker. 2 And
sons were born to David in Hebron
. And his first-born [was] Amnon, [the son
of] Ahinoam of Jezreel
. 3 And his second was Chileab,
of Abigail of Carmel, the former wife of Nabal
. And the third [was] Absalom, the son
of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur
. 4 And the fourth [was] Adonijah, the son
of Haggith.
And the fifth [was] Shephatiah, the son
of Abital.
5 And the sixth [was] Ithream,
by Eglah, David's wife
. These were born to David in Hebron.
2 Samuel 6:16 And it happened [as] the ark of the LORD came to the city of David,
Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw king David leaping and dancing
before the LORD. And she despised him in her heart. . . . . . 20 And David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and
said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the
eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers
himself! 21 And David said to Michal, [It was] before the LORD, who chose me before
your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the
LORD, over Israel. And I danced before the LORD. 22 And I will be still lower than
this, and will be base in my own sight. And of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, with
them I shall be had in honor. 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to
the day of her death.
[If God made Michal childless because of her error, why didn't God punish David in
some equally significant way, since he had at least six wives by the time of this
incident? If polygyny is sinful, why didn't God punish David instead of Michal,
his first wife?]
2 SAMUEL 7:4 And that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan saying, 5 Go and
tell My servant David, So says the LORD, Shall you build Me a house for My dwelling?
. . . . . . 8 And now so shall you say to My servant David, So says the LORD of
hosts: I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people,
over Israel. 9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies
out of your sight, and have made you a great name like the name of the great ones
in the earth. . . . . . Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. 12 And
when your days [are] fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set
up your seed after you, who shall come out of your bowels. And I will make his kingdom
sure. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his
kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity,
I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men.
15 But My mercy shall not leave him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before
you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you. Your
throne [shall be] established forever.
>>>>>[If polygyny is a sin like adultery, why did Jehovah confer such a great blessing,
reward and heritage on a man with six wives and numerous concubines?]
MKJV 2 Sam.12: 7 And Nathan said to David, You [are] the man!
So says the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you
out of the hand of Saul.
8
And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your bosom,
and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah.
[Do I have a reading problem, or did God just say that He gave wives (plural) to David?
Why is this giving of wives listed by God among the blessings that He gave to David,
if polygyny is the sin that some say it is?]
2 Samuel 12:9 And if that [was] too little, I would have given to you such and such
[things] besides. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do evil in His
sight? You have stricken Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife
[to be] your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 And therefore,
the sword shall never depart from your house,
because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your
wife.
11 "So says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house,
and
I
will take your wives before your eyes and give [them] to your neighbor. And he shall
lie with your wives in the sight of this sun."
MKJV 2 Sam 16: 21 "And
Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines,
that he left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are
abhorred by your father. And the hands of all who [are] with you will be strong.
22 And they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and
Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel."
MKJV2Sam.20:3 "And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And
the king took the ten women, [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep the house,
and put them in ward, and fed them but did not go in to them. And they were shut up
till the day of their death, living in widowhood."
1 Kings 11: 4 For it happened when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart
after other gods. And
his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father.
.
. . 6 and Solomon did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and
did not [go] fully after the LORD like his father David.
[Why would God say that King David went "fully after the LORD", being blessed and
commended by God, even though he had fallen into adultery and had many wives and
concubines? Why would God say that David's heart was perfect with the Lord his God,
when the Lord knew that David was a practicing polygynist, if polygyny is a sin as some say?
Where do we see God blessing evil doers in their sin? Adultery is a sin and God
exacted a severe punishment on David, so why didn't God punish David for his polygyny,
if it is a sinful as some say?]
1 Chronicles 3:1 And these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron.
The first-born, Amnon,
of Ahinoam of Jezreel.
The second, Daniel,
of Abigail of Carmel
. 2 The third, Absalom the son
of Maachah the daughter of Talmai
king of Geshur. The fourth, Adonijah the son
of Haggith.
3 The fifth, Shephatiah
of Abital.
The sixth was Ithream
by Eglah his wife
. 4 [These] six were born to him in Hebron. And there he reigned seven years and six
months. And he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years. 5 And these were born to
him in Jerusalem Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
four of Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel
6 and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, 7 and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 8 and
Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 9 [These were] all the sons of David,
besides the sons of the concubines,
and Tamar their sister.
>>>>>[ IF POLYGYNY IS THE SIN THAT SOME SAY IT IS, WHERE IS GOD'S CONDEMNATION OF
THE SEVEN WIVES AND TEN CONCUBINES OF KING DAVID? WHY WOULD GOD REBUKE AND CHASTEN
DAVID FOR HIS ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA, AND THEN TURN AND BLESS DAVID IN HIS MARRIAGE
TO BATHSHEEBA AND HIS OTHER WIVES, IF POLYGYNY IS SIN AS SOME SAY? If you count his first
wife, Michael, then he had eight wives when he died. In these passages you see God
calling and recognizing as "wives" David's concubines. If that is the way God sees
them, only a fool would treat them as less than a wife (Malachi 2). Malachi 2 makes
it pretty clear how God feels about those who break their covenants with their concubines
and wives.
David is a fascinating case. He marries Michal in l Sam. 18. Then, as the anointed
future king of Israel, David took to himself three additional wives in l Sam 25,
and one is recognized by the Spirit for her grace and wisdom. He does this at a
time of God's miraculous intervention and blessing in his life. God neither denounces or
condemns him or his polygyny. In the case of three or four wives you are still dealing
with addition, rather than the multiplying of Deut. MKJV DEUT. 17:16 "But he shall
not multiply horses to himself. . . . 17 Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that
his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself."
It is interesting that horses, silver and gold - AS WELL AS WIVES - were not to be
multiplied. I can't believe this was meant to limit the king to ONE HORSE, or ONE
SILVER OR GOLD BAR, even so I can't believe it limits a king to one wife.
In fact in 2 Sam 6, it is Michal who is condemned and punished instead of her polygamous
husband David. By the time he becomes King in Judah he has 6 wives>83 and is being
blessed and prospered by God. At the time of the wonderful Covenant with David in
2 Sam. 7, God specifically blesses and covenants with polygamist David and his concubines
and his seven wives, as part of his house, receive a blessing. God even said "I gave
you . . . your master's wives" >84 ". And Nathan said to David, you are the man! Thus says Jehovah the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered
you out of the hand of Saul; 8 and I GAVE YOU YOUR MASTER'S HOUSE, AND YOUR MASTER'S
WIVES INTO YOUR BOSOM, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that] had been too little, I would moreover have given unto you such and such things."
[Footnotes:>83 (2 Sam. 3); >84a 2Sa 12:7]
At this time God had "given" him seven wives plus a number of concubines (1 Chronicles
3). God here condemns David's adultery and murder, but implies His blessing on David's
polygyny . This implied blessing of his polygyny would have to mean that David, with concubines and seven wives, had not yet violated the prohibition against a
king multiplying wives to himself. >84b to David in his polygyny. Apparently even
concubines plus seven wives is not "multiplying" wives to oneself. He had about 14
wives and concubines at the end of his life>85. David the polygamist was declared to be
loyal to God>86. God declares that David, the polygamist, fully followed God>87.
[Footnotes:>84b 2Sa 12:7; >85 (1 Chron 3); >86 ( l King 11:4); >87 (l King
11:6)]
In contrast to God's evaluation of David, we have a beloved brother's evaluation that
David was adulterous, unjust, favored some over others, and his sons became killers
because he didn't have the authority deal decisively with his heritage>19. Unless
I'm mistaken, I believe that monogamous Adam and Eve had a similar problem with Cain
and Abel, and monogamous Isaac and Rebekah certainly had their share of "favoritism
and injustice. . . intrigues" in their parenting of Jacob and Esau and Jacob's obtaining
the blessing instead of Esau. Again and again we see that sin and the flesh are the
problems, not polygyny.
[Footnote: >19. Trobisch; MY WIFE MADE ME. . . p.20.]
God conferred the status of wives on David's concubines in 2 Sam. 12:11 as we see
how the prophecy was played out in 2 Sam. 16:21, 22; and 20:3. Again the distinction
between concubines and wives seems to be an issue on man's end, not on God's end
where it seems to be the solemn vow/covenant>20 and not the wedding ceremony>21 that
makes a woman a wife even if society calls her a concubine>88 .
[Footnotes:>.20 See appendix #4.; >.21 See appendix #4; >88 (Ezek. 16; Malachi
2; Eccles. 5:5-9;and Matt. 1:18-20 where we see the Holy Spirit call Mary and Joseph
husband and wife based on their betrothal/ espousal alone and before the actual wedding
and cohabitation)]
KING SOLOMON
1 Kings 3:1 And Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he finished
building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.
. . . 3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father. Only
he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. . . . . .
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, Ask
what I shall give you! 6 And Solomon said, . . . . 7 And now, O LORD my God, You
have made Your servant king instead of David my father. And I [am] a little child;
I do not know to go out or come in! 8 And Your servant [is] in the midst of Your people whom
You have chosen, a numerous people who cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 And give to Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people, to discern
between good and bad. For who is able to judge this, Your great people? 10 And the
word was good in the eyes of the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And
God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself
long life, and have not asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies,
but have asked for yourself understanding to judge justly, 12 behold, I have done
according to your words. Lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart,
so that there was none like you before you, and after you none shall arise like you. 13 And
I also have given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that
there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And if you will
walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then
I will lengthen your days.
Ecccles 2:8 I also gathered silver and gold to myself, and the treasure of kings and
of the provinces. I got men singers and women singers for myself, and the delights
of the sons of men,
a wife and very many wives.
Song of Solomon 6: 8
There [are] sixty queens, and eighty concubines
, and virgins without number. 9 But My dove, My undefiled is one [alone]. She [is]
the [only] one of her mother. She [is] the choice of her who bore her. The daughters
saw [her] and blessed her;
the queens and the concubines
saw her, and they praised her.
>>>>>[Isn't this a strange way to punish Solomon for having sixty queens (including
Pharaoh's daughter) and eighty concubines? Why did God heap such great blessings
on a practicer of polygyny on a large scale, if polygyny is the sin that some say
it is?
Why did God put in His Book a book about Solomon in his early polygyny, a book blessed
and used mightily by God, a bold and extravagant practicer of polygyny, if polygyny
is the sin some say it is?]
In fact if you accept the Song of Solomon as the story of young Solomon and his Shulamite
wife in a polygamous marriage>34 , you have one of the most beautiful and positive
statements of good will and love between the Shulamite and her co-wives as well as with the daughters of Jerusalem, many of whom probably also became wives to Solomon
later in life when he went too far and disobeyed God by multiplying wives to himself>35
. Let's look at the record in the Word.
[Footnotes:>34 (Song of Sol. 6:8-10). >35 (Deut 17:15-17)]
1 KINGS 11:1 And king Solomon loved many foreign women, even the daughter of Pharaoh,
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites; 2 of the nations which the LORD
had said to the sons of Israel, You shall not go in to them, and they shall not go
in to you; surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clung to
these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.
And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it happened when Solomon was old, his
wives turned away his heart after other gods. And his heart was not perfect with the
LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth,
the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites;
6 and Solomon did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and did not [go] fully after the LORD
like like his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination
of Moab, in the hill which [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the sons of Ammon. 8 And likewise he did for all his foreign wives, and burned
incense and sacrificed to their gods.
9 And the LORD [was] angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD
God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning
this thing, that he should not go after other gods; and he did not keep that which
the LORD commanded. 11 And the LORD said to Solomon, Since this is done by you, and since
you have not kept My covenant and My statutes which I have commanded you, I will
surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 But I will
not do it in your days, for David your father's sake, [but] I will tear it out of the hand of
your son. 13 Only, I will not tear away all the kingdom, [but] I will give one tribe
to your son for David My servant's sake, . . . . .
Ne 13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations
there was no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over
all Israel. But women from other lands caused even him to sin.
Ne 13:27 Shall we then listen to you, to do all this great evil, to sin against our
God in living with foreign women?
[If polygynous exceses were Solomon's damning sin, why isn't that stated here? God
plainly rebukes Solomon for disobeying Him by marrying unbelieving aliens,
so why doesn't God also condemn him for practicing polygyny? God plainly condemns
Solomon in his latter years for disobeying Him by multiplying wives and concubines,
so why did God lift, bless, anoint and exalt Solomon in his early polygyny when he
had married Pharaoh's daughter and had numerous wives and concubines?
Solomon's polygyny was sinful first because He disobeyed God's command against a
king multiplying wives to himself>89; and secondly because he married unbelievers
with whom God had specifically forbidden marriage>90. Too many wives and forbidden
wives both had the same predicted result, that they turned his heart away from God. Solomon
was declared to be disloyal to God in his polygyny>91 while David the polygamist
was declared to be loyal to God>92 . God even declares that polygynist David fully
followed God>93 .
[Footnote: >89 (Deut. 17:15-17); >90 (Nehemiah 13:23) ; >91 (1 Kings 11:1,2,6,
11); >92 ( l King 11:4); >93 (l King 11:6)]
THE POLYGYNOUS KINGS AFTER DAVID & SOLOMON
2 Chronicles 11:17 And they made the kingdom of Judah stronger, and made Rehoboam
the son of Solomon strong for three years. For three years they walked in the way
of David and Solomon. 18 And
Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as a wife for himself,
[and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 who bore him sons, Jeush,
and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore Abijah to him, and
Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom
above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines,
and had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). . . . . . And he demanded many wives.
12:1 And it happened when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had made himself
strong, he departed from the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 2 And it happened
in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had sinned against the LORD. . . . . . 6 And the rulers of Israel
and the king humbled themselves. And they said, The LORD [is] righteous. 7 And when
the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah,
saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will give them some
deliverance. . . . . 11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the
guard came and carried them and brought them again into the guardroom. 12 And when
he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him so that He would not destroy
[him] altogether. And also things went well in Judah.
[If Rehoboam's polygyny were sin, why didn't God rebuke it and judge him for it, as
God rebuked and judged him for his idolatry and his departure from the law of the
Lord? Where is God's explicit and specific condemnation of Rehoboam's polygyny?]
2 Chronicles 13: 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them, so
that they were in front of Judah, and the ambush [was] behind them. 14 And Judah
turned, and, behold, the battle [was] before and behind. And they cried to the LORD,
and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 And the men of Judah shouted. And it happened
as the men of Judah shouted,
God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the sons of Israel
fled before Judah. And God delivered them into their hand. . . .
. . 21 And
Abijah
became mighty, and
married fourteen wives,
and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of
Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, [are] written in the inquiry of the prophet
Iddo.
1 And Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David.
>>>[If polygyny is unacceptable to God, then why did God intervene to help Abijah
and deliver his enemies into his hand? Does God consistently deliver his sinning
people into the hands of their enemies?]
2Ch 21:12 And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, So says the
LORD God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat
your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way
of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the people of Jerusalem to go lusting like
the fornications of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers of your
fathers house ([who were] better than you), 14 behold, the LORD will strike your
people with a great plague, and your sons, and
your wives,
and all your goods. 15 And you [shall have] great sickness by disease in your bowels,
until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day. 16 And the LORD stirred
up the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram, and of the Arabians who [were]
near the Ethiopians. 17 And they came up into Judah and broke into it, and carried away
all the stuff that was found in the king's house, and his sons also,
and his wives
, so that there was not a son left with him except Ahaziah, the youngest of his sons.
>>>[Why didn't God say one of the reasons He punished this evil king was because of
his polygyny, if it is the sin some say it is?]
2Ch 24: 2 And
Joash did the right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters.
. . . . . . 20 And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the
priest, who stood above the people and said to them, So says God, Why do you transgress
the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot be blessed? Because you have forsaken
the LORD, He has also forsaken you. . . . . . 24 For the army of the Syrians came
with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their
hand, because they had forsaken the God of the fathers. And they executed judgment
against Joash. 25 And when they had departed from him (for they left him in great diseases),
his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the
priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. And they buried him in the city of
David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
>>>[Joash's sins and the reason for his punishment are clearly stated, right? Then
where is God's explicit and specific denunciation of his polygyny?]
CONCUBINE ESTHER BECOMES POLYGYNOUS QUEEN ESTHER, ENABLED BY GOD TO SAVE ISRAEL
Esther 1: 1 And it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this [is] the Ahasuerus who
reigned from India even to Ethiopia, [over] a hundred and twenty-seven provinces).
2 in those days, when king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom in Shushan
the palace,
Es 2:5 In Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew whose name [was] Mordecai, the
son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite 6 who had been carried
away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah
king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he brought up
Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's daughter. For she had neither father nor
mother, and the young woman [was] fair and beautiful, whom Mordecai, when her father
and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. 8 And it happened when the king's command
and his order was heard, and when many young women had been gathered to Shushan the
palace, into the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king's house, into
the hand of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him, and she received
kindness from him. And he quickly gave to her purifiers and her portion. And seven
young women [who were] fit to be given her, out of the king's house. And he moved
her and her servant women to the best place in the house of the women. 12 And when the
turn of each young woman had come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after she had been
purified twelve months, according to the law of the women (for so the days of their
anointing were done, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and
with the perfumes of the women). 13 And in this way the young woman came to the king.
Whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to
the king's house. 14 She went in the evening, and on the next day s
he returned to the second house of the women,
into the hand of Shaashgaz, the king's officer who kept the
concubines. She did not come in to the king any more, unless the king delighted in
her, and she was called by name.
15 And when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who
had taken her for his daughter, had come to go in to the king, she asked nothing
but what was chosen by Hegai the king's officer, the keeper of the women. And Esther
had favor in the sight of all who looked on her. 16 And Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus
into his royal house in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh
year of his reign. 17 And t
he king loved Esther above all the women, and she rose in grace and favor in his sight
more than all the virgins. And he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen
instead of Vashti.
18 And the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, Esther's
feast. . . . . 20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai
had commanded her. For Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as she did when she
was brought up with him.
>>>[If concubines are just harlots, then why did godly Mordecai allow Esther to become
one of the king's many concubines? If she were so careful to obey godly Mordecai,
why did she obey him when he told her to become one of the king's concubines, if
that is such an evil thing as some say?]
4: 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the
silver which Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews in order
to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree which [was]
given at Shushan in order to destroy them, to show [it] to Esther and to declare it
to her, and to command her that she should go in to the king to make supplication
to him, and to seek help for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words
of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him command to Mordecai. 11 And the
king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever, whether
man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there
is] one law of his, execution, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter
so that he may live. But I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty
days. 12 And they told Mordecai Esther's words. 13 And Mordecai commanded them to
answer Esther, Do not think within yourself that you shall escape in the king's house
more than all the Jews. 14 For if you are completely silent at this time, relief
and deliverance shall arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's
house shall be destroyed. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for a time
like this? 15 And Esther said to return to Mordecai [this answer], 16 Go, gather
all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and do not eat nor drink
three days, night or day. My maidservants and I will also fast in the same way. And so I
will go in to the king, which [is] not according to the law. And if I perish, I perish.
17 And Mordecai passed over and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
9: 29 And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with
all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And he sent the letters
to all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus,
[with] words of peace and truth, 31 in order to confirm these days of Purim in their
[set] times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had ordered them,
and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed the matters of the fastings
and of their cry. 32 And the order of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim. And it
was written in the book.
>>>[If concubines and polygyny were such a disgusting thing to (and so unpopular with)
Israelis, then why did they, and why do they, honor Esther and Mordecai so highly
in the celebration of Purim?}
POLYGYNY, A MARITAL SOLUTION IN TIMES OF WAR.
Isaiah 3: 25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26 And
her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall sit deserted on the ground.
4:1 And
in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread
and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by your name,
to take away our shame.
[Does God anywhere explicitly and specifically denounce this marital remedy for such
a shortage of men?]
FOOLISH KING BELSHAZZAR
Da 5:2 When tasting the wine, Belshazzar commanded to bring the golden and silver
vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem,
that the king and his rulers,
his wives and his concubines
, might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken
out of the temple of the house of God in Jerusalem. And the king, and his rulers,
his wives, and his concubines,
drank in them. . . . . . . 23 But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of
heaven. And they have brought the vessels of His house before you; and you, and your
lords,
your wives, and your concubines
, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, or
bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor know. And you have
not glorified the God in whose hand [is] your breath and all your ways.
>>>[In listing the sins of Belshazzar, why didn't God include his polygyny and concubines,
if it is comparable sin as some say it is?]
JEHOVAH AS THE POLYGYNOUS HUSBAND OF TWO WIVES
Ezekiel 23: 1 The word of the LORD came again to me, 2 Son of man,
there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
3 And they fornicated in Egypt; they whored in their youth, their breasts were handled,
and there their virgin nipples were worked. 4 And their names [were] Oholah, the
oldest, and Oholibah, her sister.
And they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters.
And their names: Samaria [is] Oholah, and Jerusalem [is] Oholibah. 5 And
Oholah whored under Me.
And she lusted after her lovers, to [her] Assyrian neighbors, . . . . . . . . 35
So the Lord Jehovah says this: Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your
back, therefore bear also your wickedness and
your adulteries.
36 And the LORD said to me: Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah, and
declare to them their abominations, 37 that
they have committed adultery
, and blood [is] on their hands?
Never by God or His prophets is polygyny denounced, condemned or grouped with sins
or carnal expressions of the flesh. God Himself portrays Himself as a monogynist
in Ezekiel 16 and then as polygynist in Ezekiel 23. It appears He has no problem
with the marriage styles he initiated, legislated and in which He blessed His people. So who
are we to condemn as sin that which God never condemns as sin? Why would we want
to do such a thing? Yes it is against the law in some countries and we know that
God wants us to obey the laws of the land as long as it does not violate His Law. So we
should not practice formal and public polygyny in those lands in obedience to Romans
13 etc. So why not simply say that instead of teaching as doctrine the tradition
of religious men, i.e. that polygyny is sinful?
SINCE JESUS IS JEHOVAH, HOW DID HE FEEL ABOUT THE LAW HE GAVE TO MOSES, WITH ALL ITS
PROVISIONS FOR AND REGULATIONS OF POLYGYNY?
MATT. 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have
not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and
the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the law
until all is fulfilled. 19 Therefore whoever shall break one of these commandments, the
least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven.
But whoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of Heaven.
DO YOU MEAN THAT JEHOVAH AS JESUS OBSERVED THE LAW OF MOSES,
THE LAW THAT INCLUDED POLYGYNY?
**Matt. 8: 4 And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself
to the priest. And offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.;
**12: 10 And behold, a man having [a] withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, Is
it lawful to heal on the sabbaths? This so that they might accuse Him. 11 And He
said to them, What man among you will be, who will have one sheep, and if it falls
into a pit on the sabbaths, will he not lay hold on it and lift [it] out? 12 How much better
is a man then than a sheep?
Therefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched [it] out, and
it was restored whole like the other.
**13:53 And it happened when Jesus finished these parables, He departed from there.
54 And when He had come into His own country,
He taught them in their synagogue,
so much so that they were astonished and said, From where does this [man have] this
wisdom and these mighty works?
**15: 3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress
the commandment of God
by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and mother"; and,
"He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death." 5 But you say, Whoever
says to [his] father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, [It is] a gift to
God; 6 and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And
you voided the commandment of God by your tradition
. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 "This people draws near
to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from
Me. 9 But in vain they worship Me, teaching [for] doctrines [the] commandments of
men.". . . . . . .
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan coming out of these borders cried to Him, saying,
Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.
23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying,
Send her away, for she cries after us. 24 But He answered and said,
I am not sent except to the lost sheep of [the] house of Israel.
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, help me! 26 But He answered and
said, It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw [it] to dogs. 27 And
she said, True, O Lord; but even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from
their masters' tables. 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great [is] your faith!
So be it to you even as you wish. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
**19: 17 And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? [There is] none good but one,
that is, God.
But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He said to Him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, 19 honor your father and mother,
and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
** 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those who sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats
of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them,
It is written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer"; but you have made it
a den of thieves.
14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
** 22:34 But hearing that He had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered
together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying, 36 Master,
which [is] the great commandment in the Law
? 37 Jesus said to him,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second
[is] like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.
** Matt. 26: 18 And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master
said, My time is at hand.
I will keep the Passover
at your house with My disciples. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed
them. And
they made the passover ready.
20 And when evening had come, He sat down with the Twelve. . . . .
59 And the chief priests and the elders and all
the sanhedrin sought false witness against Jesus
, in order to put Him to death. 60
But they found none;
yea, though many false witnesses came, they found none.
>>>[Doesn't this mean that He had an impeccable record as a citizen of Israel, as
a keeper of the Sinai Law? Wouldn't they easily have had a case against Jesus if
He had been disobedient to His Sinai Law?]
WHAT DID JESUS TELL HIS FOLLOWERS TO DO ABOUT THE LAW OF MOSES, THE LAW THAT INCLUDED
POLYGYNY?
Matthew 23: 1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples, 2 saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you
to observe, observe and do.
But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Some might say all or most of those Old Testament passages on marriage and morality
were for the nation Israel under the Law of Moses and not for Jesus' church under
the Law of LOVE in Christ. Bible history indicates quite clearly that Jesus came
not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it>96 . Jesus showed that He was observing all the
Law of Moses as an adult when He said that whoever does the commandments and teaches
others to do the Law of Moses "shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven">~
. Over and over again in the Gospels you see Jesus obeying the Law of Moses and telling
His followers to obey it>97 . Matt. 23:3, 4, and 23 are the strongest statements
of this expectation that His followers were to be obeying the marriage and morality
laws of Moses when He was still visibly with them, and Jesus made it soon before His death.
[Footnotes:>96 (Matt. 5:17,18); >~ (Matt. 5:19); >97 (Matt. 8:4; 12:11,12;
13:54; 15:3-6, 22-26; 17:24, 27; 19:17-19; 21:12,13; 22:34-40; 23:3,4,23; 26:18,19;
26:63,64; etc.)]
IF JESUS TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS TO BOTH KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE TEACHINGS OF THEIR
RELIGIOUS LEADERS, WHY DON'T WE NON-JEWS KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES TODAY, INCLUDING THOSE
LAWS ABOUT POLYGYNY?
Acts 15: 4 And arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and [by] the
apostles and elders. And [they] declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But some of those from the sect of the Pharisees, having believed, rose up, saying,
It was necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.
. . . . . 7 And after much disputing, Peter rose up and said to them, Men, brothers,
you recognize that from ancient days God chose among us [that] through my mouth the
nations [should] hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, who knows the
hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit even as to us. 9 And He put
no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore
why do you tempt God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, a yoke which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of
[the] Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, according to which manner they also believed.
. . . . 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to
send chosen men from them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas, whose last name was
Barsabas; and Silas, chief men among the brothers. 23 And they wrote these things
by their hand: The apostles and elders and brothers [send] greeting to the brothers,
from [the] nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. 24 Because we have heard that certain
ones who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying,
Be circumcised and keep the law! (to whom we gave no such command); 25 it seemed [good] to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have given up their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also announce
[to you] the same things by word. 28 For it seemed [good] to the Holy Spirit and to us
to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain
from meats offered to idols, and [from] blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication; from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Be prospered. 30 Then indeed
they being let go, they came to Antioch. And gathering the multitude, [they] delivered
the letter. 31 And when they had read [it], they rejoiced at the comfort.
WHY THIS DOUBLE STANDARD IN THE BOOKS OF ACTS?
Consider Hebrews 8, especially the Greek of verse 13:
"In that he says, 'A new [covenant]', he has made the
first [covenant] old. Now that which is becoming
obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."
Consider The Greek of 2 Cor. 3:7,11:
". . . the ministration of death, written [and] engraved
in stones, was glorious . . . How shall not the
m