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Introduction:
Defining polygamy and countries that allow it
Truth Bearers
Based on their belief that polygamy was known in the Bible, Truth Bearers defines itself as "A Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-believing organization for Christian Polygamy".
Polygamy in The Scriptures
The belief that polygamy is an acceptable Biblical practice is not based on what God's will is concerning marriage is, but on the fact that there are several examples of polygamy in the Bible, the practice is nowhere explicitly condemned and, in fact, there were rules in the Pentateuch that regulated the practice.
No Explicit Condemnation
Polygamy In The Bible Was Far From The Norm:
The Often Unpleasant Consequences of Polygamy
Polygamy was tolerated, but it almost always had less than desirable consequences, this made evident by taking an closer look at some individual cases.
Did God Really Give David Saul's Wives?
The Three Prohibitions (multiplying horses, wives, and wealth)
God's Blueprint for Marriage
Why was polygamy tolerated and what was God's blueprint for marriage? Is divorce a sin?
Legitimate reasons for divorce
Introduction:
Monogamy means being married to only one person at a time. Polygamy on the other hand is a form of marriage in which a person has more than one spouse at the same time.
Note: Polygyny is having more than one wife at one time. Polyandry is when a woman has more than one husband.
The legal status of polygamy differs from country to country. According to Pew research,
Only about 2% of the global population lives in polygamous households. Although relatively rare, to some extent polygamy is legal but not practiced widely in some parts of the world including swaths of the Middle East and Asia () . In a segment of West and Central Africa known as the polygamy belt – the practice is frequently legal and widespread.
In the U.S., having spouselike relationships with more than one person under the same roof was criminalized in 1882. Today, people in the U.S. are rarely prosecuted for living with multiple romantic partners, but every state has laws against getting married while already being married to someone else."
In the U.S., having spouse like relationships with more than one person under the same roof was criminalized in 1882. Today, people in the U.S. are rarely prosecuted for living with multiple romantic partners, but every state has laws against getting married while already being married to someone else"... It is considered "an infraction, a low-level offense that is not punishable with jail time". [01]
In many countries an exception is made for Muslims since Islam allows polygyny, with the specific limitation that the man can only have up to four wives at any one time, that the husband is able to support multiple wives, he treat all wives equally and justly, and provide separate residences for each wife (Quran 4:23). (Apparently that the Qur'anic verses regarding polygyny came into being after the March 19, 625 AD battle of Uhud, in which many males lost their lives, resulting in a disproportionate number of women to men.)
Most Christians oppose the practice of Polygamy, usually associating the practice with the Mormons. Apart from the Mormons, there are a small, but apparently growing number of Christians who believe that polygyny is an acceptable practice. One example of an organization that endorses the practice as being Scripturally sound calls itself ...
Truth Bearers
Truth Bearers defines itself as - "A Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-believing organization for Christian Polygamy". Based on their belief that polygamy was known in the Bible, they state,
Polygamy - More specifically, polygyny, and only according to the 100% Bible-believing Christian paradigm, is only about life-long-committed (hence, NON-promiscuous), consensual, NON-abusive, loving Christian MARRIAGE. Because we are Christians in deed and in truth, we, of course, place the GOSPEL and the Scriptures as being "Above All Else" doctrinally...
The History of the Movement of Christian Polygamy is well over a decade old; and, we continue to grow and grow. Bible-believing Christians, spanning many different denominations, are likewise seeing its Scriptural undeniability. And they are joining us to help share the truth with others, because God's Word is Truth ---no matter what.
They also claim that
In numerous churches, across numerous Bible-based Christian denominations, very often it is the most Bible-dedicated believers who are sitting in those Churches, quietly disappointed that their Church or its leadership seem to be blind to so obvious a Scriptural Truth as Christian Polygamy.
They provide support for pastors who "have long quietly known the truth of Christian Polygamy, but they have often been isolated and unable - even disallowed - to be bold in their churches".
The TruthBearer.org organization provides them with assurance that they are "not alone," and the support "organizational support enables those dear pastors to overcome those obstacles when the time is right for them to do so in their churches." [02]
Polygamy in The Scriptures -
The belief that Polygamy is an acceptable Biblical practice is largely based not on what God's will is concerning marriage is, but on the fact that there are several examples of polygamy in the Bible, the practice is nowhere explicitly condemned and in fact, there were rules in the Pentateuch that regulated the practice.
Note: Concubines were women who who cohabited with a man without being legally married to him. They had a recognized social status below that of a wife or wives but without certain privileges. However, although Scripture refers to both wives and concubines, in some fashion, concubines were recognized as wives. In 2 Samuel 12: 11, God told David what would befall his wives - a prophesy that was fulfilled in his ten concubines (2 Samuel 16:21-22)
The first case of polygamy chronicled in the Scriptures is when
Lamech, a descendant of Cain, "took to himself two wives" (Genesis 4:19).
Esau had several wives as did
Elkanah - Hannah's husband and Samuel's father,
Gideon said to have had many wives and 70 sons (Judges 8:30).
Rehoboam, successor to Solomon's throne had a total of eighteen wives, and threescore (sixty) concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21).
David had several wives and concubines.
In fact, based on isolated verses most people come to the conclusion that two giants of Old Testament history - Abraham and Moses - each had more than one wife at the same time. However when one examines the circumstances in a little more detail, the picture is not quite as clear and it can not be definitively stated that they were polygamists. See Abraham Below and Footnote on Moses
In any case, using the examples of polygamy in the Scriptures as a guideline for our behavior is an unsound practice. The Bible is a factual written account of important or historical events as they occurred. It makes no attempt to minimize or cover up the sins or failings of the people who's stories are told, nor does it seek to exaggerate their good qualities.
This bring up the question of why polygamy was never specifically prohibited in Scripture
No Explicit Condemnation:
One question that has plagued monogamous Christians is why the men who practiced polygamy were never directly charged with any wrongdoing for having multiple wives. Even David, who God called a man after his own heart, was heavily disciplined by God for his adulterous relationship, but never for his multiple wives.
In fact marriages to additional spouses were considered valid in the Scriptures (Jesus' lineage did not always go through the first wife). The only passages in the OT laws that prohibit polygamous marriages are those that would constitute incest. When a man married a woman all her relatives became his kinsfolk thus a man could not marry a woman and her daughter or granddaughter (Leviticus 18:17), a woman and her sister as a rival (v. 18), or a woman and her mother (20:14).
However, it is to be noted that polygamy was not the only wrong doing in the Bible that went unmentioned by God. Abraham's half-lies about his wife Sarah's relationship to him, Lot's selfishness in choosing the better land, Rebekah's scheming to deceive the then-blind Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing that would otherwise have gone to Esau (Genesis 27:1-40). Rachel's stealing of the teraphim that belonged to her father (Genesis 31:19). etc. etc.
Just because there never was a specific rebuke by God on every one of these issues does not mean He approved of any of them.
Regulation of Polygamy:
Some laws in the Pentateuch do appear to place God's stamp of approval on polygamy. For example note the rules and guidelines concerning the treatment of multiple wives. The laws specifically prohibiting ill-treatment of the first wife after a second marriage and protected the inheritance of the first born if he happened to be the son of a less favored wife.
If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights, (Exodus 21:10)
If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn. "But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn. (Deuteronomy 21:15-17 NASB)
It was an obligation for men to marry their widowed sisters in law and support her family (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) The point being that the brother could very well have already been married.
However, just because God permitted and even regulated polygamy, does not mean that He ever condoned or approved of the practice.
Polygamy In The Bible Was Far From The Norm:
What is almost completely ignored is the fact that there are only about eighteen specific examples of polygamy throughout the Old Testament which means the practice was far from the norm. Little is said about the number of Old Testament men of God who had only one wife - For example Adam (Genesis 2-4), Noah (Genesis 6:18), Isaac (Genesis 25:20-23), Joseph Genesis 41:45), Boaz (Ruth 4), Job who was, in fact, a prime candidate for multiple marriages since he was very wealthy (Job 1) and considered "the greatest man among all the people of the East". However even he had only one wife.
Next to nothing is known about the personal life of the prophets, but both Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3), and Hosea (Hosea 3:1-3) are specifically said to have been married to one woman.
Additionally, most examples of polygamy in the Old Testament are far from positive. The tragic stories of Abraham, Jacob, Elkanah, David, and Solomon paint such a negative picture of polygamy that it is difficult to see how anyone can come away with a positive outlook.
The Often Unpleasant Consequences of Polygamy
Polygamy was tolerated, but it almost always had less than desirable consequences, this made evident by taking an closer look at some individual cases.
Abraham, Sarah and Hagar:
Abraham was married twice. However, Sarah's death is recorded in Genesis 23:1-2, but it is not until Genesis 25, that we are told that Abraham married Keturah and had six sons by her. While it is true that Hebrew composition does not always place events in chronological order, the narrative here does seem to be in the order of time. However, the fact that Keturah is called a concubine in Genesis 25:6 and 1 Chronicles 1:32 may imply that Sarah was still alive,
The main reason that Abraham consistently makes the list of Biblical polygamists is probably because he had a son by Sarah's maid Hagar whom Sarah herself gave him. While there is no question that Abraham yielded to temptation, unquestionably Sarah's action played a key role in the whole affair.
Abraham's bearing a son by Hagar brought nothing but trouble for everyone involved. From the time Hagar became pregnant there was tension and jealousy between her and Sarah. She despised Sarah (Genesis 16:4) and treated her so harshly that Hagar fled (v. 6). Later, because Hagar's son Ishmael began to mock Isaac, Sarah asked Abraham to drive them away (Genesis 21:9 -10). This caused great anguish for Abraham who cared for his son Ishmael (V. 11).
All this ended only when God ordered Abraham to send Hagar and her son away. One can only imagine the bitterness and resentment that this must have caused Hagar.
Jacob, Rachel and Leah:
Jacob, who's very name means "supplanter" was patriarch and founder of the twelve tribes of Israel who did not have very auspicious beginnings. He and Esau were fraternal twins born to Isaac, son of Abraham. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceptively acquired the birthright that lawfully belonged to Esau the first born brother.
Even though Jacob, in his earlier years, seemed to have faults aplenty, was he also guilty of simply taking to wife any woman he fancied? The answer to that is a resounding no! Jacob became a polygamist because of his father in law Laban's deception and wound up taking two concubines on the instigation of his two wives. All this against a sad backdrop of favoritism, bitterness, jealousy and rivalry.
Jacob fell in love with Rachel and worked for her father Laban for many years in order to win her hand. However Laban deceived Jacob and substituted his other daughter Leah in Rachel's place with the excuse that it was not their custom to give the younger in marriage before the elder.. Since he was the victim of fraud, Jacob probably had grounds to reject this marriage, but did not. He accepted Leah but apparently could not give Rachel up, eventually marrying her as well.
The point of the story is this.. Jacob's initial polygamous marriage to Rachel was the result of him being deceived by her father Laban. Should Jacob have acted differently? Certainly! But he was not willing to give up the love of his life, and since polygamy was not unknown in the day, rightly or wrongly, decided to marry Rachel as well.
Because Jacob loved Leah less than Rachel (Genesis 29:30), God opened Leah's womb, with the result that she bore four sons consecutively. Rachel who remained barren got very jealous of her sister and got Jacob to give her children through her handmaid Bilhah.
At this Leah, who apparently was not getting pregnant again, gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob to have even more children. There seemed to be no end to the strife and bitterness between the two sisters, with Leah obviously very unhappy because she thought herself "hated" and wanted sons to win the affections of her husband.
Jacob also favored his and Rachel's son Joseph who was "the son of his old age". (Genesis 37:3), This causes Jacob's other sons to hate him and eventually sell him into slavery (V. 28).
Elkanah, Peninnah and Hannah:
Elkanah loved his wife Hannah more than his wife Peninnah even though Peninnah had given him children and Hannah had not had a child. Hannah was severely provoked by Peninnah which caused her no end of distress (1 Samuel 1:1-7).
David:
The story of David, a man "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; cf. 1 Kings 11:4) overflows with conflict and turmoil that stemmed from the affair with Bathsheba and the relationships and rivalry among David's children by various wives.
For example,
David's firstborn Amnon raped his half sister Tamar, sister of Absalom (2 Samuel 13:1–20).
Absalom's response is pure hatred (2 Samuel 13: 21-22), which led him to kill Amnon in a complicated plot (2 Samuel 13: 28–29).
Later, Absalom revolted against his father David (2 Samuel 15:1-12) and publicly disgraced David by committing adultery with David's concubines on the roof of the King's palace in full view of Israel (2 Samuel 16:21–22).
Absalom is eventually murdered by David's nephew Joab (2 Samuel 18:32-33).
At the end of David's life Adonijah, another son by yet another wife, aspired to be king, causing more problems for David until Solomon (his son by Bathsheba) was finally crowned king of Israel (1 Kings 1:5–53).
In the final analysis David suffered a tarnished reputation, a kingdom in shambles, a disgraced daughter, several disgraced concubines, and four dead sons.
Did God Really Give Saul's Wives to David ?
As He did with the polygamous patriarchs, not only did God never directly condemn David's polygamy but one passage in particular seems to indicate that God gave Saul's wives to David as a way of blessing him.
In 2 Samuel 12, after David has committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered her husband Uriah, and taken her as his wife, Nathan the prophet confronted David with his sin:
Nathan then said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 'I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives (plural? See interlinear (Heb. ishshah )into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! (2 Samuel 12:7-8 NASB)
In the passages quoted above God recounts all the blessing He had bestowed on David... anointing David king over Israel; delivering David from the hand of Saul etc. Crucial to the pro-polygamy argument is the fact that God seemed to be telling David that Saul's wives were one of the blessings He had given David. However, the Scriptures only mention Saul as having one wife and one concubine. God could not have given David wives that Saul did not have
The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz... (1 Samuel 14:50 NASB)
Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah... (2 Samuel 3:7 NASB)
However, the Hebrew ishshah does not necessarily mean 'wife' but can also mean a woman. For example,
Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman (Heb. ishshah) in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, "I saw a woman (Heb. ishshah) in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife (Heb. ishshah) ." (Judges 14:1-2 NASB)
But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, if he does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's (Heb. ishshah) wife or approach a woman (Heb. ishshah) during her menstrual period (Ezekiel 18:5-6 NASB)
To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman (Heb. ishshah) of beautiful appearance. (2 Samuel 14:27 NASB)
Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women (Heb. ishshah) went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. (Exodus 15:20 NASB)
In those days possession of all property including the harem was a sure proof that the successor (or conqueror) had all legal rights. Since God could not have given into David's hands wives that Saul did not have, it is possible that the term "wives" meant Ahinoam - Saul's legal wife and Rizpah his concubine or even that God had given David absolute power over every thing possessed by Saul, including female servants.
Certainly there is no evidence that David had any relations with either Saul's wife or his concubine.
Solomon:
Solomon was one of the most celebrated polygamists in all history thus those arguing in favor of polygamy frequently hold him up as proof for the practice of polygamy being right.
What seems to be rarely considered is that Solomon's multiple marriages proved to be the downfall of Israel that was split up as a direct consequence. Unfortunately, neither his son nor his grandson learned anything from this, but each went on to become polygamists in their own right. In fact 2 Chronicles 11:23 tells us that Solomon's son and successor Rehoboam sought many wives for his 28 sons.
The Three Prohibitions (multiplying horses, wives, and wealth)
In Deuteronomy 17:15 the Lord told the people that they would set a king over themselves that the Lord had chosen. He would be from amongst them and not a foreigner. God also added a warning...
Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' "He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. (Deuteronomy 17:16-17 NASB)
As king of Israel Solomon was bound by these three prohibitions however he disobeyed in all three areas accumulating forty thousand stalls of horses; unparalleled riches; and innumerable wives (See I Kings 4:26; I Kings 10: 14-29, I Kings 11:3)
Wives”
We see marriage as a unique bond between two people who are in love however, European and Eastern rulers frequently married for political, economic, or diplomatic reasons. Arranged marriages between kings or clan leaders were tools to cement political alliances and often seen as an important way to bind together two countries in both peace and war.
However, foreign wives could (and frequently did) introduce their own customs and idolatry into the nation. For Israel this would have been a death knell, which is why intermarriage was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Although Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh's daughter did not draw the king into idolatry (1 Kings 3:1 - 15) sadly as he accumulated more and more wives, he was turned away from the one true God to false ones.
He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.
Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. (1 Kings 11:3-8 NASB)
Solomon's multiple marriages led to the downfall of Israel. With the exception of one tribe, God took the kingdom out of his hand. See 1 Kings 11:9-13.
Wealth:
Considering that many of the men in the Old Testament were very wealthy and that God Himself gave Solomon "both riches and honor" (1 Kings 3:13), it is certain that the king of Israel was never meant to be paupers. Thus the warnings on the New Testament e underlying principle.
As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, the love of money (not necessarily the money itself ) is the root of much evil.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB)
He went on to tell Timothy to...
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NASB)
In Luke 8:14 Jesus warned that the deceitfulness of riches can "choke" the word of God. In Matthew 19:24 He stated that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God"
In other words, success and material goods (and the accumulation thereof) preoccupy our lives to the extent it carries a very real danger of taking precedence over what is truly important
Horses and Prestige:
Obviously the use and ownership of horses could not have been absolutely prohibited. However, it is possible that in a country where asses and mules were the most common, horses could not only accord the owner with a great deal of prestige but cause him to trust too much in them.
Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. (Psalms 20:7 NASB)
A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. (Psalms 33:17 NASB)
In summary, the kings of Israel were being warned against indulging in anything that would divert them from their first responsibility.. their service to God. Even today riches, power, prestige, and pleasure can be great hindrances to godliness.
God’s Blueprint For Marriage
As said earlier, the question that has to concern the New Testament believer is not what Jacob or Elkanah did, but what God's original design for marriage was.
1 Corinthians 7:2 makes it very clear that marriage is between one man and one woman.
But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:2-3 NASB)
In Ephesians 5 Paul quoting Genesis 2:24 telling the church "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" (V. 31). He then went on to tell them that each individual among them was to "love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband". (V. 33) Both Husband and wife were in the singular.
Paul called the Church the bride of Christ and John spoke of marriage of the Lamb (Christ). Although the "bride" is made up of innumerable Christians, it is referred to in in the singular never in the plural - one wife.
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. (2 Corinthians 11:2 NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8 NASB)
Church Leaders Had To Be Monogamous
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1 Timothy 3:2 NASB)
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. (Titus 1:5-6 NASB)
Although the above verses apply to the elders of the church not to matters such as church membership and baptism etc. they are an ideal towards which every Christian should strive.
Christ made it very clear that a permanent union between one man and one woman is God's ideal. When the Pharisees approached Him asking whether or not divorce was lawful, Jesus' answer probably didn't please them because He made it clear although it was tolerated for a time divorce was wholly inconsistent with the original design of marriage. He cited the Genesis creation account - 1:27 and 2:24, in particular where it says 'two will become one flesh'. He also explained why Moses allowed divorce.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 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'? "So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?" He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:3-9 NASB)
The only exception seems to be found in Ezra 10 and Nehemiah 13, where divorce is virtually commanded. These marriages were illegitimate since the wives that were put away were foreign (Canaanite?). These marriages jeopardized the racial purity of the nation Israel, particularly as it related to the Messianic line. One can see why these marriages had to be set aside. This situation is obviously unusual, but the reason for dissolving these marriage unions is clear. [03]
If divorce went against the original design for marriage but was tolerated for a while, there is absolutely no reason to believe that the practice of polygamy was any different.
Perhaps at one time, social conditions did exist which made polygamy a "necessary evil." However, for the most part, none of those conditions have carried over into our modern world which is vastly different from the ancient Near East. And, as mentioned earlier, polygamy was not the only wrongdoing in the Bible that God said nothing about it in the Old Testament.
Is Divorce a Sin?
Sin is a transgression of God's law, therefore if God had ever issued a commandment against divorce and polygamy then anyone who got divorced or married more than one wife would have been a sinner. However, although the Lord said He hated divorce He never specifically banned it nor did He ban polygamy. Thus neither one was a sin.
Besides which, it is impossible that Moses would have allowed divorce for any reason whatsoever if it had been a sin.
Legitimate Reasons for A Divorce
There were only two "exceptions" to the no divorce policy of the Bible - If a spouse dies (Romans 7:2-3) or commits adultery (Matthew 19:8-9).
While it is true that God says He hates divorce, situations in our so called "civilized" age are that make even divorce a "necessary evil" that God would not condemn.
Spousal and child abuse come to mind.
Anyone who think that divorce is out of the question in these kind of cases is out of his or her mind and must believe God is as well.
Do God's Laws Ever Change?
There are those that believe that God's rules never change. Not the case.
... Adam and Eve did not eat meat before the flood (Genesis 1:29-30). But after the flood, man was allowed to eat meat (Genesis 9:3-4). When the Law of Moses was given, certain kinds of meat could be eaten, while others were prohibited as unclean. And then, in Mark 7:19 and Acts 10 & 11, God made it clear that "all foods were now clean."
In other words, the unchanging God does incorporate change in the way He deals with men, even though He remains the same.
The same could be said for the observance of the Sabbath. Violating the Sabbath was once a capital crime (Numbers 15:32-36), but later became a matter of personal conviction (Romans 14:5). [04] See Does Picking Up Sticks on the Sabbath Deserve the Death Penalty?
However, it has to be noted that God's moral laws remain unchanged.
Theft, adultery, fraud, bearing false witness against another, murder, idolatry etc. are sins that if unrepented of, will keep us out of His kingdom.
All of which leaves us with...
A Thorny Problem
Polygamy presents a problem in the possible cases in which a man who already has more than one wife converts to Christianity. Although they may not be able to hold an official position in the church (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6), one has to fall back on 1 Corinthians 7 in which Paul instructed the Corinthians to remain in the circumstances in which they came to faith.
This does not include remaining in sin (Romans 6:1). For example the prostitute and thief have to repent of and completely forsake their sin.
As it can not be Biblically proven that polygamy is sinful, the convert should be allowed to remain in the same situation he or she was in at the time of conversion.
Footnote I- The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
The Book of Mormon states:
"Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts... (Jacob 2:27-30, emphasis added)
In other words, no man should practice polygamy unless directed to do so by the Lord which is exactly what Joseph Smith said in October 1843
"... I have constantly said no man shall have but one wife at a time, unless the Lord directs otherwise." [05]
However, Doctrine and Covenants 132 recorded on the 12th of July 1843 was supposed to be a revelation given through Joseph Smith “"relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage". It stated that the Lord gave men like Abraham and David their wives and concubines. and that they became gods.
37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.
38 David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me. [06
Although we do not know exactly how many wives Smith had in 1887 Andrew Jenson, an assistant church historian of the LDS Church listed 27 women besides Emma Smith - Joseph's first wife. Mormon historian Todd Compton estimates that Smith married at least 33 women and that several of them were simultaneously married to other men. Apparently at least eleven of the wives (33 percent) were only 14 to 20 years old when they married Smith. [07]
In 1855, Brigham Young stated that not only is a person is damned if they deny polygamy, but will never aspire to become a god. He himself apparently "took 55 wives, who bore him 57 children". [08]
He also made the following statements...
Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned, [09]
The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy, [10].
However, although it is not the official web site of the LDS church, Mormon rules now states that "Polygamy is a Biblical concept that was approved by God only when commanded by Him to serve His purposes" and that they "practiced polygamy in the early days of the church, but have not done so for more than 100 years" and anyone found doing so is excommunicated. [11]
Fundamentalist Mormons broke away from the LDS Church largely because of the church's suspension of new polygynous marriages. While the LDS church believe that the schismatics have no right to call themselves "Mormons", the groups themselves believe they are adhering to the original teachings of founder Joseph Smith.
See Section on Mormonism
Foot Note II - Moses
Pro-polygamists believe that the Bible records that Moses had two wives.
Moses was willing to dwell with the man (Reuel) and he gave his daughter (Heb. bath) Zipporah to Moses. (Exodus 2:21 NASB)
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); (Numbers 12:1 NASB)
Some opine that when Numbers 12:1 spoke of a "Cushite woman" it was actually referring to Zipporah. However this is extremely unlikely. Why would Zipporah be called a Cushite when her father is called a Midianite in Numbers 10.
Besides which, not only does the text imply that Moses' marriage to a Cushite woman was a recent one, but it seems hard to believe that Miriam was objecting to Moses' marriage to Zipporah that had taken place years earlier, and had already produced two children.
Others say that perhaps Zipporah had died and Moses had remarried. While this is possible, Exodus 18:2 certainly seems to point to divorce
And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away (Heb. shâlach). (Exodus 18:2 NASB)
The Hebrew word shâlach rendered "sent away" is frequently used in connection with divorce as the following examples show -
then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce (Heb. shâlach) her all his days. (Deuteronomy 22:29 NASB)
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out (Heb. shâlach) from his house, (Deuteronomy 24:1 NASB)
God says, "If a husband divorces (Heb. shâlach) his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:1 NASB)
For I hate divorce (Heb. shâlach) ," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the Lord of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." (Malachi 2:16 NASB)
Thus it is therefore entirely possible that Moses married the Cushite woman after he and Zipporah were divorced. Stating that Moses knowingly married two women at the same time is no more than an assumption.
Note: We have absolutely no idea why Moses might have divorced Zipporah, unless it was to break the bonds with the Midianites who were Baal worshippers which is simply a possibility. When Moses was in hiding from the Egyptians he made his home among the Midianites, who were a semi-nomadic people with remote pastures probably beyond the reach of the Egyptian authorities.
Along with the Moabites, they became one of the major enemies of the people of Israel as they made their way out of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses to war against them (Numbers 31:7), which was the second time that Moses was forced to fight people that he once regarded as his own. [PLACE IN TEXT]
But let us return to the occasion when the Scriptures tell us that Moses sent Zipporah away but Jethro, priest of Midian, later brought her and her two sons back to Moses.
Note that according to Exodus 2:21 Reuel was Zipporah's father
And Moses was willing to live with the man. And he gave his daughter (Heb. bath) Zipporah to Moses. (Exodus 2:21 NASB)
However, Jethro is called Moses' father in law in Exodus 3:1 and Exodus 18:1
Now Moses was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law (Heb. châthân) Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Exodus 3:1 NASB)
Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law (Heb. châthân), heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law (Heb. châthân) , took Moses' wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away (Heb. shâlach), (Exodus 18:1-2 NASB)
The Hebrew châthân seems to be a general term for a relative by marriage - a precise relationship determined only by context. For example,
Which is like a groom (Heb. châthân) coming out of his chamber; It rejoices like a strong person to run his course. (Psalms 19:5 NASB) https://biblehub.com/interlinear/psalms/19-5.htm
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a groom (Heb. châthân) puts on a turban, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10 NASB) https://biblehub.com/interlinear/isaiah/61-10.htm
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Have the groom (Heb. châthân) come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber. (Joel 2:16 NASB)
The Hebrew word bath - a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively): - apple (of the eye). Naomi used bath when speaking to Ruth - her daughter in law
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, It is good, my daughter (Heb. bath), that you go out with his young women, so that others do not assault you in another field.” (Ruth 2:22 NASB)
Then he said, "May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter (Heb. bath). You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first, by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. (Ruth 3:10 NASB)
bath was also used figuratively,
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters (Heb. bath) from the ends of the earth, (Isaiah 43:6 NASB)
Come down and sit in the dust, Virgin daughter (Heb. bath)of Babylon; Sit on the ground without a throne, Daughter (Heb. bath) of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender and delicate. (Isaiah 47:1 NASB)
End Notes
[01] Stephanie Kramer. Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions."
https://tinyurl.com/3sw5hdbb
[02] TruthBearer.org. https://tinyurl.com/mv9sa6ab
[03] What Insights Do You Have For Missionaries Trying To Address Polygamy In Polygamous Cultures?
http://bible.org/question/what-insights-do-you-have-missionaries-trying-address-polygamy-polygamous-culture
[04] ibid.
[05] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Page 324, October 5th 1843 D.H.C. 6:46.
Publisher: Deseret Book Co (June 1, 1977)
[06] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 132.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng
[07] Todd M. Compton. In Sacreeliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith. Prologue. Page 11.
Publisher: Signature Books (December 15, 1997)
[08] Vol. 03 Journal of Discourses https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/JournalOfDiscourses3/id/109
[09] Plurality of Wives - The Free Agency of Man. Remarks by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Bowery, Provo, July 14, 1855. Reported by G. D. Watt. https://jod.mrm.org/3/26
[10] The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc.
https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Journal_of_Discourses/11/41#269
[11] Mormon Rules. Mormon Polygamy Today. https://mormonrules.com/list/do-mormons-practice-polygamy-today
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