New Scriptures are clear one to polygamy is, nonetheless try today, a legitimate variety of matrimony. Goodness no place condemns godly guys in order to have several spouse. Abraham got a partner, and then he partnered the lady maid (Genesis sixteen:2-4); Jacob partnered Leah and Rachel (Gen.-30; ; ) and he hitched Leah and you can Rachel’s handmaids, Zilbah and you can Bilhahand (Genesis 29:1-24; 37:2); Legal Gideon got many spouses and you may a good concubine (Evaluator 8:30-31); Elkanah .1:2); David .-43; ), then after grabbed a lot more wives (2 Sam.5:13) at Jerusalem (step one Chron.14:3); In 2 Sam.12:7-8, Goodness offered David these types of several wives due to the fact a true blessing, exactly as anointing him given that king more than Israel, protecting your out of Saul, and offering your our house regarding Israel and Judah was basically in addition to blessings from Him; Queen Solomon got 700 spouses and you will 3 hundred concubines (step 1 Leaders eleven:1-3); Ashur married Helah and Naarah (1 Chron.4:5); Shaharaim hitched Hushim and you will Baara (step 1 Chron.8:8); Abijah had fourteen spouses (2 Chron.); Jehoiada the priest had dos wives (dos Chron.24:3). Including, Goodness never destined ungodly guys in order to have multiple girlfriend either: Lamech (Gen.4:19), Esau (Gen.36:dos,6), Queen Rehoboam had 18 wives (2 Chron.); Queen Belshazzar got of many spouses (Dan.5:2-3). Additionally, after war-date, many women perform get married one or more child by the lack of boys offered because of around being murdered (Isaiah 4:1).
You can confirm from the Old testament therefore the New-testament that polygamy was, and still is actually, a legitimate variety of wedding that is perhaps not wicked
We discover the sister Paul dealing with new polygamy away from Abraham in place of a sign it absolutely was sinful (Galatians 4:22).
Solomon mistreated the legal right to need several girlfriend and you may undoubtedly got difficulty inside the conference the fresh new intimate requires from so a lot of women
When we study the existing Testament law in regards to the polygamy, we find that if this new singular «wife» is utilized, those people regulations you’ll affect monogamy otherwise polygamy (Deut. , 22), and if the new plural «wives» is employed, those regulations only apply at polygamy. (Deut. -17). Legislation reported that a guy could take some other spouse given that long when he nonetheless delivered to his first girlfriend (Exo.). Here’s what the new apostle Paul calls «due benevolence» (step one Cor.7:3). Regulations safe brand new rights of one’s first born man regarding their genetics in the event where the father well-known other wife more than their mommy (Deut. -17).
-29). There is nothing in this text one supporting the idea one to merely solitary the male is to help you wed in cases like this. It laws safe and you can made certain this lady one her restaurants, clothes, and you may marital rights and responsibilities wouldn’t be diminished. In addition, it protected the woman throughout the reproach of not being able to find several other kid to-be this lady partner because she is no longer a virgin and, furthermore the new reproach off maybe never to be able to keeps people. The man, solitary otherwise hitched, needed to be guilty of their fornication and girl called for to-be protected.
Legislation asked men so you’re able to marry the fresh widow regarding their dead brother’s partner if the he previously zero college students with her (Deut. 25:5-10). Once again, there is nothing within text that aids that this legislation is actually simply for simply unmarried brothers.
Regulations performed possess some limitations into the polygamy, such as a man not marrying brand new sibling otherwise mom off his girlfriend (Lev. , Lev. ). Other restrict admonished this new queen up against the purchase of too many wives (Deut. ), and you can, particularly, overseas wives, because they manage usually tempt your into the gods (step 1 Kings 11:1-8). Solomon sinned, not because of the fact he got many wives, however, due to the fact the guy married female out-of international regions, in which he don’t split off their urban centers from worshipping not true gods (Deuteronomy 7:3). It can plus appear one to Solomon bankrupt which legislation where the guy increased seven-hundred wives and 300 concubines so you’re able to himself (1 Kings 11:3). David, likewise, don’t break which law, since try mentioned before (2 Samuel 12:7-8).