What does the Bible reveal about the practice of POLYGAMY in the Old Testament?

[Philip]

Of course, many key figures in the Old Testament had multiple wives - was the practice of polygamy viewed positively by God? What examples are made concerning it? Etc.

Here,Pastor and apologist Mike Winger does an excellent job of reviewing key passages that reflect upon how God views the practice of polygamy in the Old Testament, per how it contrasts the experiences of those practicing it vs. those who did not - see the first 32 minutes of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UCgseTQ_P0


And what if a woman married multiple husbands?

[Nessa]

I was just listening to Mike talk about it today.

But I was also thinking that didn't God tell David he would of given him more wives if he wanted? (concerning his affair with bathsheba)

[Philip]

I was just listening to Mike talk about it today.

But I was also thinking that didn't God tell David he would of given him more wives if he wanted? (concerning his affair with bathsheba)

Nessa, it IS perplexing how God dealt with the issue. I never could understand why He didn't make a huge deal of it or call out leaders like David and Solomon - especially, those who had concubines. But we also see so many passages that God desired monogamy between only two, AND many showing the disaster this practice caused. I've never heard it satisfactorily explained. Yet, we know that God doesn't make mistakes and had his reasons for how he dealt with this deeply entrenched cultural practice of the time. We must trust Him and His Scriptures, even if we don't sometimes understand certain things. As He has stated:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55 ESV)

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