Why does your Bible endorse polygamy?

Question

What the Bible says about Polygamy

Genesis 4:19
And Lamech took unto him two wives.

Genesis 16:1-4
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai ... gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived.

Genesis 25:6
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had....

Genesis 26:34
Esau ... took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

Genesis 31:17
Then Jacob rose up, and set ... his wives upon camels.

Exodus 21:10
If he take him another wife....

Deuteronomy 21:15
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated....

Judges 8:30
And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

1 Samuel 1:1-2
Elkanah ... had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah.

2 Samuel 12:7-8
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel ... I gave thee ... thy master's wives....

1 Kings 11:2-3
Solomon ... had seven hundred wives ... and three hundred concubines.

1 Chronicles 4:5
And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

2 Chronicles 11:21
Rehoboam ... took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines.

2 Chronicles 13:21
But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives....

2 Chronicles 24:3
Jehoiada took for him two wives....

Mt.25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Answer 1

That's a good question, since so many Christians these days and for the past thousand years or two have been against it. Maybe it just doesn't want to say that the women finally put their collective foot down and wouldn't stand for the polygamy anymore.

Y'know, it's kind of amusing how Christians make fun of Muslims for their 72 virgins thing, when that last verse has its own virgins-in-heaven myth. I like it.

Answer 2

It's interesting, though, that these are all Old Testament refferences and relatively early ones at that. (Mt 25:1 doesn't count because the virgins aren't wives or concubines but just the welcoming party; he's not marrying them.) Before the Jewish religion, polytheism was probably pretty common among the Israelite tribe. I imagine it takes a while to change from what you're used to, especially if it's enjoyable, but perhaps the fact that the change did occur also proves something.

Answer 3

Polygamy is a cultural thing not a spiritual thing. I am from a Methodist background in the US, and culturally (generally) we dont endorse polygamy.

During the early Hebrew period of the Jewish culture there was a perceived need for it, but I do not believe that the current day Jewish faith believes in it. I also think that, at the same time of the writing of those scriptures, the other cultures (Egypt, Mesopotamia, etc) in and around the Mediterranean had a widely different view on Polygamy then we do today as well.

People forget that the bible was written in the context of the environment of those doing the writing! :)

Answer 4

The Bible also discussed the evils of polygamy, and the trouble it causes:

Deuteronomy 21:15-17 (The Message)
15-17 When a man has two wives, one loved and the other hated, and they both give him sons, but the firstborn is from the hated wife, at the time he divides the inheritance with his sons he must not treat the son of the loved wife as the firstborn, cutting out the son of the hated wife, who is the actual firstborn. No, he must acknowledge the inheritance rights of the real firstborn, the son of the hated wife, by giving him a double share of the inheritance: that son is the first proof of his virility; the rights of the firstborn belong to him.

Leviticus 18:18
18 "Don't marry your wife's sister as a rival wife and have sex with her while your wife is living.

Matthew 19:4
4-6He answered, "Haven't you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart."

Genesis 30
1 When Rachel realized that she wasn't having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She told Jacob, "Give me sons or I'll die!"
2 Jacob got angry with Rachel and said, "Am I God? Am I the one who refused you babies?"

Answer 5

The story about the 10 virgins was a parable and as far as I remember the virgins were not brides. Also, the remaining quotes are from the old testament and describe the culture of the people of Israel at that time. In no verse of the Bible will you see God supporting polygamy.

Answer 6

Knucklehead, read on, the people that took many wifes suffered
much as a result.
Nowhere does the Bible endorse polygamy, just shows the records of lineage.
A concubine is not a wife.
The Bible endorses monogamy "that is why the man shall leave his mother and stick to his WIFE, and the two shall become one flesh.

Answer 7

the last isnt even a streach your slipping,, and also i dont have to live under the hebrew laws and ordinances,, im a follower of christ who was the last sacrifice, and the completion of the law ,,so read a little more of the red words in the back ,,and dont please put me into that yoke of abraham,, also why be down on the bible,, if all of the world was following a path of peace as it recommends your life improves ,,as there less crime and folks telling them they are wrong ,may make them quit being nice,, if you win what you get is more folks without any moral compass or any guide to live by ,,,what the Laws of the land are making this country safer ,,nah ,,leave them alone and maybe convince more to get a spiritual life ,,then the worlds a safer politer place for you to dwell

Answer 8

"no person contained in america practices"..... Hmm.. that for the time of itself is an unusual remark in my eyes.. because it makes it sound like the country is meant to be the ethical authority.. in the event that they do no longer prepare some thing, then it truly is misguided? (frightening concept considering the fact that there's a great sort of immorality interior the country) And.. as for the country no longer practising issues.. There have maximum easily been a minimum of two of those issues you stated practiced interior the country.. Polygamy (the previous LDS church formerly they replaced their procedures as an occasion) and additionally.. Slavery... the country had a great volume of slavery in its previous.. My factor is.. at the same time as maximum of those issues are incorrect.. a number of them have been practiced interior the country.. AND basically with the aid of fact some weren't (or are not now) practiced there, does not in itself lead them to incorrect.. there are different motives they are incorrect. the country is maximum easily no longer the ethical authority of something. And.. basically curious.. what the heck is misguided with Kings, etc?

Answer 9

Saying it happened and endorsing it are two different things.


The 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1 were not brides.

Answer 10

That was just the culture back then in the area where the bible was written. People like Joseph Smith take it way too far.

Answer 11

That was normal back then. Just like us females showing our ankles would have been blasphemous to them! The point is my God judges everyone based on the motivations of their own hearts. If they thought they were in the right I believe he endorsed it. It is all about intentions.