Biblical Examples of Polygamy in the Old Testament
Biblical Examples of Polygamy in the Old Testament
Polygamy, the practice of having multiple spouses, is first recorded in the biblical account with Lamech, a descendant of Cain, who took two wives (Genesis 4:19) [1]. This act is considered a deviation from the original institution of marriage as described in Genesis 2:18-24, where monogamy is implied as the normative pattern [2, 3].
The Old Testament records several instances of polygamy among the patriarchs and other notable figures. Abraham, for example, took Hagar as a second wife, or more accurately, a concubine, at Sarah's suggestion (Genesis 16:1-4) [2]. Jacob had multiple wives and concubines, including Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, which led to complex family dynamics (Genesis 29:23-30; 30:3-13) [2]. The practice continued through the history of the Israelites, with examples including Gideon (Judges 8:30-31), David (1 Samuel 25:43; 27:3; 2 Samuel 5:13), and Solomon, who had hundreds of wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3) [8].
The law of Moses did not prohibit polygamy but regulated it, ensuring that a wife's rights were protected (Exodus 21:10) [4]. The Mosaic law also stipulated that a man could not take a wife and her mother (Leviticus 18:17; 20:14), indicating some limitations on marital practices.
Despite the prevalence of polygamy, the biblical text maintains that monogamy is the original and ideal form of marriage. The creation account in Genesis 2 is cited by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6 as the basis for the indissolubility of marriage between one man and one woman [2, 3]. The New Testament reinforces this ideal, with the apostle Paul encouraging believers to have one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6) [5].
The practice of polygamy is often associated with negative consequences in the biblical narratives. For instance, Lamech's polygamy is followed by a boastful and vengeful song (Genesis 4:23-24) [6]. Jacob's multiple marriages lead to strife and favoritism among his children (Genesis 29-30) [2]. David's polygamy is linked to family conflicts and troubles (2 Samuel 13-18) [8].
In the view of some Reformed interpreters, such as Calvin, the biblical account suggests that polygamy is contrary to the divine institution of marriage [7]. The early church fathers and many Christian traditions have also viewed polygamy as a departure from the original divine plan for marriage.
The biblical examples of polygamy serve as a backdrop for understanding the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of deviating from the original divine institution of marriage. While the Old Testament records polygamy without necessarily endorsing it, the New Testament reaffirms the ideal of monogamous marriage.
The historical and cultural context of the Old Testament narratives indicates that polygamy was a common practice in the ancient Near East. The biblical text does not shy away from recording the complexities and challenges that arose from such practices. The examples of polygamy in the Old Testament provide a nuanced understanding of the biblical view on marriage and the consequences of human actions.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Polygamy — [[981]Marriage]”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 4:19: Lamech took unto him two wives--This is the first transgression of the law of marriage on record, and the practice of polygamy, like all other breaches of God's institutions, has been a fruitful source of corruption and misery.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 6.40: forcibly: ‘They two shall be into one flesh,’ and thus Christ cites the place in Matthew 19:5 . But though here no mention is made of two , yet there is no ambiguity in the sense; for Moses had not said that God has assigned many wives, but only one to one man; and in the general direction given, he had put the wife in the singular number. It remains, therefore, that the conjugal bond subsists between two persons only, whence it easily appears, that nothing is less accordant with the divine institution than polygamy. Now, when Chr”
- 1 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Kings 11 (introduction): SOLOMON'S WIVES AND CONCUBINES IN HIS OLD AGE. (Kg1 11:1-8) But King Solomon loved many strange women--Solomon's extraordinary gift of wisdom was not sufficient to preserve him from falling into grievous and fatal errors. A fairer promise of true greatness, a more beautiful picture of juvenile piety, never was seen than that which he exhibited at the commencement of his reign. No sadder, more humiliating, or awful spectacle can be imagined than the besotted apostasy of his old age; and to him may be applied the words of Paul (Gal 3:3), o”