Abraham had Sarah and Hagar, Jacob had a bunch (at least the translation called them "wives", King Solomon had 700 (plus 300 concubines).
2007-12-19 10:52:59 · 14 answers · asked by Apocalypse Cow 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sorry, I specifically asked about "1" of each, so any answer that focuses on the mechanics of sexual reproduction doesn't count since having > 1 wife certainly allows people to have children.
Maybe there's more info at http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=425&letter=P#1613
2007-12-22 09:01:44 · update #1
It seems that the Israelite, like many societies, did allow polygamy.
2007-12-22 16:23:34 · update #2
It isn't. For further information, see "Same Sex Unions in Premodern Europe" by John Boswell (http://www.amazon.com/Same-Sex-Unions-Premodern-Europe-Boswell/dp/0679751645 ).
2007-12-19 10:56:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19-4:6
Just because someone had many wives and concubines does not mean God approved of it.
Hagar is Sarah's handmaiden, not Abrahams wife. Genesis 16
2007-12-19 19:05:08 · answer #2 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know what's interesting...when Sarah complained to Abraham, wanting him to "get rid of this bondwoman and her son", God told Abraham to "hearken unto the voice of his WIFE.
Whenever you see a man in the Bible with more than one wife, check and see whether it was God's idea, or his...I'll bet you'll find that in every case, it was the man's. And I'll bet, too...how do I put this?...that their home-life was less than satisfying.
It was Davids' inability to control his lust that caused him so much misery...and Solomon lost the kingdom because of his.
Others have given you the verses showing God's opinion about the matter....
Multiple wives was NEVER God's idea...if He had wanted men to have more than one wife, He would have created more than one woman at the beginning...
It wasn't Adam and Eve and Susan and Joanna and Mary and Elizabeth....
It was JUST
ADAM AND EVE!!
EDIT: While we're thinking about it, have you noticed how much trouble was caused by Abraham and Sarah's impatience?
That family feud is STILL going on...and how many people have died because of it?
2007-12-19 19:32:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small Sample of Biblical Quotes:
Eph 5:22-32 union of man and woman image of Christ and Church.
Ps 127:3-5 Children are a Gift from God, full quiver is a blessing. Need a man and woman for that quiver.
Lv 20:15 If man lies with animals put to death (sterile sex)
Lv 20:16 woman lies with animal put to death.
Lv 18:22 Homosexual called abomination, cut off from people (sterile sex)
Rom 1:27 Homosexuals called unnatural, shameful, and a perversity. (Sterile sex)
2007-12-19 19:01:44 · answer #4 · answered by Lives7 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Genesis 2:24 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
2007-12-19 18:56:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Genesis 2:24 - "That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh. "
Matthew 19:5 - "and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’?"
Ephesians 5:31 - “For this reason a man will leave [his] father and [his] mother and he will stick to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
1 Timothy 3:1, 2 - "That statement is faithful. If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach,"
Titus 1:5, 6 - "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders; if there is any man free from accusation, a husband of one wife, having believing children that were not under a charge of debauchery nor unruly."
1 Corinthians 6:16 - "What! Do YOU not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? For, “The two,” says he, “will be one flesh.”"
Proverbs 5:18 Let your water source prove to be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth,
Notice: "the" wife (wife being singular) of your youth...
1 Corinthians 7:2-4 - "let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to [his] wife her due; but let the wife also do likewise to [her] husband. The wife does not exercise authority over her own body, but her husband does; likewise, also, the husband does not exercise authority over his own body, but his wife does."
Notice: They belong to each other.
Journey Well...
2007-12-19 18:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by Juggernaut 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Right here, and many times there after...
"But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband." -- 1 Corinthians 7:2
2007-12-19 19:00:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Those men were sinning by taking more than one wife. They had tragedy, war, and a falling into idolatry because of it.
In Genesis 2:24 it says "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
2007-12-19 18:57:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Lets see Adam And Eve!!! people can't make baby's themselves with out men or women! naturally! would want tell your child he or she is from test tube??? that sounds unnatural! like movie solent green! test tube baby first to be come food!
2007-12-19 19:02:38 · answer #9 · answered by lingo bingo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is irrelevant... it has no moral authority and belongs in the mythology section.
2007-12-19 18:58:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
"let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband"
I think its cornithians 7:...2? somewhere around there...
2007-12-19 18:59:51 · answer #11 · answered by Meli W 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋