Why did God allow Polygamy? The best anyone can do is “informed” speculation. "The first instance of polygamy / bigamy in the Bible was Lamech in Genesis 4:19, “Lamech married two women…” Several prominent men in the Old Testament were polygamists. The Bible does not specifically say why God allowed polygamy. 18:27; 2 Sam. First, there has always been more women in the world than men. Due to patriarchal societies, it was nearly impossible for a woman in the ancient world to provide for herself. Question: "Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible? Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible? The Scripture doesn’t specifically say so we have to take Biblical principles and see if we can extrapolate something elsewhere and apply it to this situation. The Bible does not specifically say why God allowed polygamy. Just because humans do something does not mean that God approves of it. 2) How does God view polygamy today? Why did God let these men have more than one wife? Here are some things to consider: First, throughout much of history, there have been more women than men. So why, then, did God allow polygamy? ... Why Polygamy Is Allowed And Even Blessed By God – Part 2. The result of this was they encountered problems that they did not wish they had. Some Biblical Principles to Understand Polygamy. Why did God let these men have more than one wife? Daughters were not as valuable to the family in ancient times, since they were unable to work in the fields. The question of polygamy is an interesting one in that most people today view polygamy as immoral, while the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. God’s purpose for marriage was to help individuals find mutual support in families. Why? So, since God’s standard for Christians is one wife or one husband, why did God allow his ancient covenant people Israel to have more than one wife? By J.R. Ensey Answer: The question of polygamy in the Bible is an interesting one in that most people today view polygamy as immoral while the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. Here's the Plain Truth About. Question: Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? (1) Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? What does it mean for wives to submit to their husbands? Once sin entered the world, that mission and the way in which it could be fulfilled, was warped. Source: desiringgod.org. So, since God’s standard for Christians is one wife or one husband, why did God allow his ancient covenant people Israel to have more than one wife? Gideon had many wives (Judges 8:30), whose son was Abimelech who was wicked. Hosted by But it was not the way it was intended from the beginning (Matthew 19:8). Matthew 19:4–5, “And He answered and said, 1 Corinthians 7:2, “But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.”, Ephesians 5:31, “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”, 1 Timothy 3:2, “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”. Before you answer, Pastor John, of course we should keep in mind a number of African countries do allow polygamous civil marriage, as of course is ... read more. God permitted polygamy in the Old Testament but this only led to sin. Popular opinion is not always right . Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible? If God is opposed to polygamy, then why does 2 Samuel 12:8 say that God gave David wives? Whay is polyandry? Current statistics show that approximately 50.5% of the world population are women, with men being 49.5%. G od did not sanction polygamy in Old Testament times. Why? That’s a good question. Abraham Was NOT a Polygamist. G od did not sanction polygamy in Old Testament times. Women were often uneducated and untrained. According to a Gallup poll taken in May of 2013, 83% of Americans believed polygamy … A woman who had been married and divorced was shamed. … Christian Truth. Due to the “one flesh” aspect of marriage, the need for oneness and harmony in marriage, and the lack of any real … God’s permitting of polygamy seems more like the case of divorce, which God tolerated for a while under certain conditions because of the hardness of their hearts. Abraham had more than one wife (Gen. 16:1-4)and because of it, there were problems. One of those gifts was a committed marriage relationship between a man and woman who were devoted to each other and God. There has always been some debate about it, but in the early church non-leaders were permitted multiple wives. 3:2-5; 1 Chron. Why did God not just forbid polygamy outright? What does the Bible teach about marriage? As You seek understanding and clarity in your life you should always turn to your Heavenly Father for Guidance. Christian Web Hosting, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?”, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.”. Contrary to the suppositions many have accepted, God forbade it--and PUNISHED for it! Elkanah had two wives (1 Samuel 1:1-7) and there was bitterness because of it. 0 0. Was it a command or was it forbidden? Deut. Why not punish the polygamist and invalidate all polygamous marriages? God seemingly does not step in, but someday He as Judge will right all wrongs. (1 Kings 11:1-4) Clearly, the Bible paints a negative picture of polygamy. When Jesus came, He restored marriage to it's ideal in regards to divorce. Furthermore, virtually every instance of polygamy recounted in the Torah is related directly by the narrative to some sort of calamity—whether strife between competing wives, as was the case with Hannah and Peninah,1 or between rivaling half-siblings, e.g. 19:8). It was only for the hardness of their hearts. The name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah” and in 1 Kings 11:3 wherein Solomon “had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. Answer prepared by Gaylon West www.BibleStudyLessons.net THE BIBLE AND MULTIPLE WIVES and CONCUBINES Several prominent men in the Old Testament were polygamists. Why Polygamy Is Allowed And Even Blessed By God – Part 1. In more stable times, polygamy resulted in many men remaining single because wealthy men could have many wives. The first record of polygamy is with Lamech, a descendant of unfaithful Cain. Let us keenly listen and understand the Biblical perspective and know the consequences of indulging ourselves in such activities. In the beginning, God created one for one. Although the Bible hints that protection of women is probably the main reason why God allowed polygamy, most polygamous marriages were not so altruistic. It’s important to understand that the Bible was written to a culture that did not prioritize protecting or providing for women. The first instance of polygamy / bigamy in the Bible was Lamech in Genesis 4:19—“Lamech married two women….” Solomon surely loved women (1 Kings 11:3), but it's safe to say most of his wives were given to him to gain political favor. The first instance of polygamy/bigamy in the Bible was that of Lamech in Genesis 4:19, “Lamech married So one possible reason Parr says that God may have permitted polygamy was actually to protect women. 3) Why did it change? Why did God allow humans to lie, cheat, kill, divorce etc.? Why did God allow polygamy? Why did so many men in the Bible have multiple wives? 2) How does God view polygamy today? Even some of the famous Bible characters, Abraham and David, committed polygamy. Solomon clearly did not use God’s wisdom and disobeyed God, but God permitted it. Polygamy only leads a married person far from God. We will discuss why God had brought polygamy into the world. God has never approved, nor made lawful, more than one living wife … David had many wives (1 Sam. Does the Bible say anything about interracial marriage. Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others all had multiple wives. 11:21-12:1) and they foresook the Law of God. It wasn't God's ideal from the start, and certainly isn't today, but He did allow it without condemning those who had more than one wife for a season. In marriage how do the two become one flesh? Women relied on their fathers, brothers, and husbands for provision and protection. In today’s marriage talk, Pastor Priji enlightens us about the idea of multiple partners in the form of extra-marital affairs or polygamy. Many people recall at once a few Old Testament instances of plural wives, and assume that God sanctioned polygamy. While polygamy may not have been God’s plan, He did use these sinful relationships for His good. Polygamy is the state of being married to more than one partner, regardless of whether it’s a man having many wives or a wife having many husbands. Why Did God Allow POLYGAMY In The Bible? There are three questions that need to be answered: 1) Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? He also gave them the joint mission to rule over and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). The answer is found, in part, by asking why God allows anything. Question: Did God Allow Polygamy After the Law was fulfilled? The Bible does not specifically say why. July 8, 2014 jefferchan Leave a comment. Assuming … God never condoned polygamy but like divorce he allowed it to occur and did not bring an immediate punishment for this disobedience. The devil through his craftiness sought to only disarray whatever God had created. Marriages were very often contracts between families. God didn’t stop him. Transcript. Although Scripture doesn't tell us specifically why God allowed men to have multiple wives, we can make an "informed" speculation. Many people ask questions; if God does not allow polygamy, why then did He allow the likes of king David and his son king Solomon, plus many other characters in the Bible to have many wives? Why did God allow polygamy (man marrying more than one woman)? So one possible reason Parr says that God may have permitted polygamy was actually to protect women. Polygamy did not start among those who were true worshipers of Jehovah God. In today’s marriage talk, Pastor Priji enlightens us about the idea of multiple partners in the form of extra-marital affairs or polygamy. Polygamy did not start among those who were true worshipers of Jehovah God. We will discuss why God had brought polygamy into the world. Closer to home, in the state of Utah, polygamy is technically illegal but not enforced. So one possible reason Parr says that God may have permitted polygamy was actually to protect women. God didn’t stop him. It seems to me that polygamy falls into a similar camp. Let’s talk about that. 3) Why did it change? God’s design is a man to be married to a woman and not to have multiple marriages. A man would take multiple wives and serve as the provider and protector of all of them. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines… A Brief History of Polygamy . Copyright 2011-2021 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. Before you answer, Pastor John, of course we should keep in mind a number of African countries do allow polygamous civil marriage, as of course is true in the Middle East, as was true in the Old Testament in the Bible. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3) and he started serving false gods. When there were too few men due to warfare, this purpose was accomplished by allowing polygamy to ensure male heirs. So, it seems that God allowed polygamy to protect and provide for the women who could not find a husband otherwise. OLD TESTAMENT POLYGAMY. Did God allow polygamy after the Law was fulfilled? Best Answers. Still, some might wonder why God chose to tolerate polygamy among his people. First, polygyny (a form of polygamy) was allowed under the Law of Moses.That is, men were allowed to have multiple wives. People began to value God's gifts less. There are a few key items to consider. I have held this position on Biblical polygamy for 20 years(and no I am not a practicing polygamist) . Today we hear of extremely violent crimes. That’s a good question. This is a very interesting question and as someone who grew up in the church I knew who Abraham … Why Does God Allow Polygamy in the Old Testament? God allowed polygamy (as well as divorce) in the Old Testament because of the hardness of people’s hearts (Matt. In fact, he specifically said not to have more than one wife because, in … So why did God allow polygamy? Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible? Answer prepared by Gaylon West www.BibleStudyLessons.net The question as given: Polygamy # 4. You may be surprised to learn that Abraham was not a polygamist -- that David completely repented of it -- that God's legal statutes made polygamy illegal in ancient Israel! God never approved of polygamy nor did he intend it to be the norm. So why would God allow that? Statistics show that about 50.5% of the current global population is female. Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible? October 24, 2020 . “In this culture,” Parr explains, “there were a lot of men who were going off to war, and they were dying, leaving a disproportionate amount of men to women.” In the ancient world, women were generally not educated. Let us keenly listen and understand the Biblical perspective and know the consequences of indulging ourselves in such activities. W hy did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? God did not have a problem with Abraham taking Hagar as second wife, but the problem was in his wife seeing this child of the slave woman as Hagar to Abraham to produce an heir in direct contradiction to God’s promise that Sarah would bear Abraham’s heir. - Read online for free. Contrary to the suppositions many have accepted, God forbade it--and PUNISHED for it! They argue that man was originally made by God with a monogamous nature, and only because of sin did polygamy enter the picture. As we speculate about God’s silence, there is at least one key factor to consider. Lamech was the first to have more than one wife (Genesis 4:19, 23), but he was a wicked man, a murderer. If God is opposed to polygamy, why does 2 Samuel 12:8 say that God gave David wives? We can only speculate on why God did not give more clear prohibitions against polygamy, but the ancient attitudes towards women would have made punishing polygamy incredibly hard on the wives. Now, I do believe God is opposed to polygamy. While definitely not ideal, living in a polygamist household was far better than the alternatives: prostitution, slavery, starvation, etc. Is God pro-polygamy? Why Did God Allow Polygamy? Despite the many examples of polygamy in the Bible, it was never God's intent for people. The first record of polygamy is with Lamech, a descendant of unfaithful Cain. W hy did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? Abraham, Jacob, David (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3), Solomon (1 Kings 11:3), and others (In 2 Chronicles 11:21, King Solomon's son Rehoboam had … Posted by biblicalgenderroles May 31, 2020 May 31, 2020 Posted in For Both, polygamy Tags: Bible, Biblical Polygamy, Christian, Concubines, Ezra, Gideon, Hosea, marriage, patriarchy, Solomon. Was it a command or was it forbidden? Then why did God allow it? Wives were never allowed to have more than one husband. Some Biblical Principles to Understand Polygamy. For example, a man marrying multiple women could give the women protection. 14:3), and there were problems because of it. “In this culture,” Parr explains, “there were a lot of men who were going off to war, and they were dying, leaving a disproportionate amount of men to women.” In … He created Adam and Eve to cleave together, the two becoming one (Genesis 2:24). Tragically, Solomon’s heart did indeed turn aside from Jehovah because of the bad influence of his many wives. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chron. Lusting after another woman is not really adultery, but it does violate the (ten commandments) of 'not covet thy … Polygamy was not a problem in the OT and was allowed for all. That assumption is absolutely false! And his wives turned away his heart.” However, it is worthy to note that although God allowed polygamy or bigamy, it does not necessarily mean that He - ProProfs Discuss What is Polygamy? Due to patriarchal societies, it was nearly impossible for an unmarried woman to provide for herself. In a recent conversation, the topic of multiple wives came up, and also the fact that Abraham and David, and many others who were well known in the Old Testament had multiple wives. A Brief History of Polygamy. In the New Testament, polygamy appears to be prohibited (Timothy, Titus) but for church leaders only. What is Polygamy? 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