The brand new Scriptures are unmistakeable one to polygamy was, nevertheless are now, a valid brand of matrimony. God nowhere condemns godly males in order to have multiple wife. Abraham had a wife, and then he hitched her maid (Genesis 16:2-4); Jacob partnered Leah and you can Rachel (Gen.-30; ; ) and then he partnered Leah and you will Rachel’s handmaids, Zilbah and Bilhahand (Genesis 31:1-24; 37:2); Courtroom Gideon had of many spouses and a good concubine (Evaluator 8:30-31); Elkanah .1:2); David .-43; ), up coming later took a great deal more wives (dos Sam.5:13) at the Jerusalem (1 Chron.14:3); In two Sam.12:7-8, God gave David such numerous wives since a true blessing, just as anointing him once the king more Israel, securing him out-of Saul, and providing him our house out-of Israel and you will Judah was in fact as well as blessings off Your; King Solomon had 700 spouses and you can 3 hundred concubines (step 1 Leaders eleven:1-3); Ashur partnered Helah and you can Naarah (1 Chron.4:5); Shaharaim married Hushim and you can Baara (step 1 Chron.8:8); Abijah got fourteen wives (dos Chron.); Jehoiada brand new priest had 2 spouses (2 Chron.24:3). And, Goodness never ever destined ungodly men in order to have more than one spouse either: Lamech (Gen.4:19), Esau (Gen.36:dos,6), Queen Rehoboam had 18 spouses (dos Chron.); Queen Belshazzar got of several spouses (Dan.5:2-3). At exactly the same time, once war-date, many women carry out get married one or more son from the lack of guys available due to truth be told there becoming killed (Isaiah cuatro:1).
It’s not hard to confirm on the Old-testament and also the New-testament one polygamy are, nonetheless was, a legitimate sort of matrimony and is maybe not wicked
We find the sibling Paul making reference to the new polygamy regarding Abraham instead a hint it absolutely was wicked (Galatians 4:22).
Solomon mistreated the ability to simply take multiple wife and you can definitely had challenge into the meeting the fresh new intimate needs away from thus lots of women
When we research the old Testament rules regarding polygamy, we discover when the fresh new only one “wife” can be used, those rules you are going to apply to monogamy or polygamy (Deut. , 22), assuming new plural “wives” is employed, people statutes merely connect 
with polygamy. (Deut. -17). The law reported that a guy could take other wife given that a lot of time when he nonetheless taken to 1st girlfriend (Exo.). This is what the newest apostle Paul calls “owed benevolence” (step 1 Cor.7:3). Regulations secure the brand new legal rights of your own first-born boy regarding their inheritance in case where father prominent another spouse more their mom (Deut. -17).
-29). You’ll find nothing within text message one supports the idea one to simply unmarried men are in order to get married in this instance. Which rules protected and you can ensured the woman one to this lady dining, attire, and you will relationship rights and duties would not be reduced. This safe the girl in the reproach off not capable of getting other child is her partner as she are no longer a virgin and you will, in addition the new reproach of maybe never being able to features people. The person, solitary otherwise partnered, needed to be guilty of their fornication while the girl necessary to get safe.
The law demanded one so you’re able to get married the fresh new widow out-of his dry brother’s spouse in the event that he had no children with her (Deut. 25:5-10). Once more, you’ll find nothing within this text message one to supports that law was restricted to only solitary brothers.
What the law states performed have some constraints for the polygamy, including a person not marrying new sister otherwise mother of his girlfriend (Lev. , Lev. ). Various other limit admonished new king from the purchase of unnecessary spouses (Deut. ), and, particularly, foreign wives, while they manage will tempt your toward their gods (step one Leaders 11:1-8). Solomon sinned, perhaps not because of the fact which he got of several wives, but because the the guy partnered ladies from overseas nations, and he failed to rip down their towns and cities away from worshipping not the case gods (Deuteronomy seven:3). It would plus arrive that Solomon broke that it laws where the guy increased seven hundred wives and 3 hundred concubines to help you themselves (step one Leaders 11:3). David, additionally, didn’t crack which laws, just like the is discussed earlier (dos Samuel several:7-8).