Question aabout polygamy in OT

[fin]

why was it done, how about the 10 commandments?

sdavid and solomon had many wives, accdg. to Scripture

anyone knows???

 

[Timidity]

fin:

why was it done, how about the 10 commandments?

The Ten Commandments were not the law–they were a “sound bite” summary of the law. The full law, given to Moses by God allowed men to have multiple wives.

For the social and economic structure in place at the time, it made sense. When you have many men going off to die in battle the female:male ratio shifts drastically. Polygamy allowed these “extra” women to find a man who will support her and give her children who, in turn, will support her in her elder years.

As times and economics evolved the practice was eventually banned (in the Talmud, IIRC).

 

[Fidelis]

fin:

why was it done, how about the 10 commandments?

sdavid and solomon had many wives, accdg. to Scripture

anyone knows???

Hi and welcome to the CA Forums!

You’ll find you’ll learn a lot if you use the “Search” feature at the top of this page. We’ve discussed almost every concievable topic in these forums, including this one. Here is a recent thread:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=94450&highlight=polygamy

As for David:

1 Samuel 25
42 And Ab’igail made haste and rose and mounted on [a donkey], and her five maidens attended her; she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahin’o-am of Jezreel; and both of them became his wives. 44 Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of La’ish, who was of Gallim.

2Sa 5:13
And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.

And Solomon:

1Ki 11:3
He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

 

[OriginalJS]

There is nothing in the New Testament that says a man can have only one wife. Abraham had a wife but he had his first son by Hagar who Sarah, barren at the time, gave to him to sire a son Ishmael. After Sarah had Isaac she became jealous of Hagar who had the first son and hounded Abraham until he ran Hagar and Ismael off.

Jacob went to Laban to work for Rachel, whom he loved at first sight, but he got fooled at the wedding when he woke up in the morning Leah was in bed with him. Leah who bore Reuben, Simeon and Levi. Jacob worked for Laban longer and also married Rachel who was barren for awhile and turned Bilhah over to Jacob and he got Dan and Naphtali on her. Then, not to be outdone, Leah, who wasn’t having more children, turned over a female servant for Jacob’s use as well. This went on for awhile until Rachel got pregnant after all and had Joseph.

So, this patriarch of the Old Testament was clearly polygamous and had children by the servants of both wives. These sons were the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, so apparently they were treated equally.

But, these guys were pikers compared to our man Solomon. According to First Kings, Chapter 11, he had Seven Hundred wives, princesses and three hundred concubines! Consider that for a moment!

In the Old Testament, polygamy is in and nothing in the New Testament takes it out.