Many Wives? |
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“…where do we learn when more than one wife began…Was it not of the Jews and a custom the Jews learned from other people? And my last question is when did it cease?” – Michelle *** The practice of taking more than one wife began in Genesis 4:19, “Then Lamech took for himself two wives.” This became a common practice among men. Abraham had both Sarah and Hagar (Gen. 16). Jacob had four wives, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah (Gen. 29, 30). Hagar, Bilhah, and Zilpah were considered “secondary” wives. Many of the kings had multiple wives and concubines, like Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs. 11:3). So, it does not seem the Jews learned it from others, but inherited it from their forefathers. Why did men have so many wives? In the case of Abraham, the Bible tells us it was in pursuit of having a child. Jacob wanted Rachel, but was tricked into marrying Leah as well. When Rachel could not have children, she gave him her handmaid. Then this was repeated with Leah. The reasons for these are basic, procreation and the esteem associated with it. Solomon had so many wives, it would seem, for two reasons. First, he lusted after women. Second, he made many political alliances through marriage. Did God approve of polygamy? Yes. David married Saul’s daughter Michal and later took many more wives (1 Sam. 18:27; 2 Sam. 3:2-5; 5:13). We know God approved this because when Nathan rebuked David for taking another man’s wife, he said God had given him his master’s (Saul’s) wives (2 Sam. 12:8). How do we know God does not approve of polygamy today? The Bible teaches that each man should have his own wife and each woman should have her own husband (1 Cor. 7:2). “Wife” and “husband” are singular. This is a case of specific authority. Since God authorizes each man having one wife, we know multiple wives are outlawed. The change from allowing polygamy to not allowing it came with a change in the law. This should not trouble us, though. Many things changed from the Old to the New; priesthood, eating of meats, observance of the Sabbath (Heb. 7:12-14; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; Col. 2:14-17). - Editor |
As iron sharpens iron, |
