The Old testament and Polygamy

[Thankful1]

Hello all,

Just a quick question that I am often asked about and am never quite sure how to answer. How is allright for men in the old testament to have multiple wives and even concubines?

I must admit that I haven't done a whole lot of research on this topic but I would greatly appreciate any insight on this subject. I know that...

Mat 19:5 and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'?
Mat 19:6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."


are sometimes used as an argument against polygamy.

Thank you. :teeth:

[Shadow Phoenix]

Thanks for your question!

Right off, I would say there were some borderline practices allowed in the OT that weren't necessarily approved. God did allow divorce, yet Malachi is clear that God hates divorce and Jesus shows that it was not the original intent for marriage.

I will say the best work I have found is contained in "Toward Old Testament Ethics" by Walter Kaiser. You can also find MP3s of Kaiser speaking online.

Hope this helps!

[Thankful1]

Thanks for your question!

Right off, I would say there were some borderline practices allowed in the OT that weren't necessarily approved. God did allow divorce, yet Malachi is clear that God hates divorce and Jesus shows that it was not the original intent for marriage.

I will say the best work I have found is contained in "Toward Old Testament Ethics" by Walter Kaiser. You can also find MP3s of Kaiser speaking online.

Hope this helps!

Thank you Apologia for the answer, I'll check out the recommended resources.

[macguy]

Thanks for your question!

Right off, I would say there were some borderline practices allowed in the OT that weren't necessarily approved. God did allow divorce, yet Malachi is clear that God hates divorce and Jesus shows that it was not the original intent for marriage.

I will say the best work I have found is contained in "Toward Old Testament Ethics" by Walter Kaiser. You can also find MP3s of Kaiser speaking online.

Hope this helps!
So i will that book will assist me on an article such as this one: http://www.secweb.org/index.aspx?action=viewAsset&id=696 ?

I already see flaws in his argument but i was wondering if that book addresses that.

Do you know if it deals with incest? I wanted to provide a response to someone on infidels known as D. Frederick Sparks and maybe it has some helpful remarks on it. Yes, it's a rather disgusting topic but it needs to be answered.

[Shadow Phoenix]

So i will that book will assist me on an article such as this one: http://www.secweb.org/index.aspx?action=viewAsset&id=696 ?

I already see flaws in his argument but i was wondering if that book addresses that.

Do you know if it deals with incest? I wanted to provide a response to someone on infidels known as D. Frederick Sparks and maybe it has some helpful remarks on it. Yes, it's a rather disgusting topic but it needs to be answered.

I would say so. If not, there is an article at the Christian-thinktank on it. I'd simply say that at the beginning, it was kind of necessary. Once the gene pool got a bit separated, then commands were brought against it.

[macguy]

I would say so. If not, there is an article at the Christian-thinktank on it. I'd simply say that at the beginning, it was kind of necessary. Once the gene pool got a bit separated, then commands were brought against it.
Thanks for answering. Wanted to confirm that before i bought it and it seems to be very good on other 'supposed' moral issues. Too bad my library doesn't have it(as expected).