Polygamy... Is it scriptural, or does Yah forbid such?

[James Pierce]

What speakest thou?

[keith]

Chaplain,

This article essentially says The Most High approved of polygyny. Then the author says our Father sort of changed his mind. The stats on more women than men is true. However by that reasoning if there are 2billion and 1 women and only 2 billion men then one man in the world would be allowed to be a polygynist. Or the corollary would be true (2billion and 1 men and 2billion women one woman could practice polyandry).

This author is has offered an opinion that shows a lack of understanding of scripture. He offers the typical arguments of polygynist/polygamists and explains them away with his opinion or how he feels. If he wishes to write an article on this he should analyze and provide appropriate scripture.

He states monogamy is the law of the land so monogamy should be followed because men wrote the law of monogamy in Rome (rome allowed any number of concubines). Also modern cultures tend to outlaw monogamy. Well what if the law changes? In many scandinavian countries sodomy marriages are legal. The next step is for polygamy to be made legal. What will your response be then??

This man must do better. Use scripture and know that monogamy is not the ideal its the Law of our Father. We can either believe and practice Ge 2:24 as reaffirmed by our Messiah Matt 19:5 or not.

[Chaplain Pat Harris]

Bro. Keith:

The author is not saying God changed his mind . . .

It is not so much God’s disallowing something He previously allowed as it is God’s restoring marriage to His original plan. Even going back to Adam and Eve, polygamy was not God’s original intent. God seems to have allowed polygamy to solve a problem, but it is not the ideal.

Shalom

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

I agree. Polygamy was not apart of the original plan, but you cannot automatically deem it under the list of sins, for GOD didn't do that.

[Chaplain Pat Harris]

You are correct Trevor, it is a fact that God did not deem polygamy to be sin; He allowed it to solve a particular problem at that particular time.

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Nevertheless, I don't even see it as solving a problem for "that particular time". This really wasn't about a population thing, but more so a choice and mutual consent between the husband and wife. The teaching by the Jews and by the Church, be it Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or Protestant, about polygamy would actually SHOCK you!!! Lets see what the Jews have to say about this:


JUDAISM on Polygamy:

"The Hebrew scriptures document approximately forty polygamists......." In practice, multiple marriage was considered a realistic alternative in the case of famine, widowhood, or female infertility. One source of polygamy was the practice of levirate marriage, wherein a man was required to marry and support his deceased brother's widow, as mandated by Deuteronomy 25:5–10.

The Torah, Judaism's central text, includes a few specific regulations on the practice of polygamy, such as Exodus 21:10, which states that multiple marriages are not to diminish the status of the first wife (specifically, her right to food, clothing and conjugal relations). Deuteronomy 21:15–17, states that a man must award the inheritance due to a first-born son to the son who was actually born first, even if he hates that son's mother and likes another wife more; and Deuteronomy 17:17 states that the king shall not have too many wives. The king's behavior is condemned by Prophet Samuel in 1Samuel 8. Exodus 21:10 also speaks of Jewish concubines. Israeli lexicographer Vadim Cherny argues that the Torah carefully distinguishes concubines and "sub-standard" wives with prefix "to", lit. "took to wives."

In the modern day, Rabbinic Judaism has essentially outlawed polygamy. Ashkenazi Jews have followed Rabbenu Gershom's ban since the 11th century. Some Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews (particularly those from Yemen and Iran) discontinued polygamy much more recently, as they emigrated to countries where it was forbidden.

Among Karaite Jews, who do not adhere to Rabbinic interpretations of the Torah, polygamy is almost non-existent today. Like other Jews, Karaites interpret Leviticus 18:18 to mean that a man can only take a second wife if his first wife gives her consent (Keter Torah on Leviticus, pp. 96–97) and Karaites interpret Exodus 21:10 to mean that a man can only take a second wife if he is capable of maintaining the same level of marital duties due to his first wife; the marital duties are 1) food, 2) clothing, and 3) sexual gratification. Because of these two biblical limitations and because nearly all countries outlaw it, polygamy is considered highly impractical, and there are only a few known cases of it among Karaite Jews today.

Israel has made polygamy illegal, but in practice the law is not enforced, primarily so as not to interfere with Bedouin culture, where polygamy is common. Provisions were instituted to allow for existing polygamous families immigrating from countries where the practice was legal. Furthermore, former chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Israeli columnist Greer Fay Cashman have come out in favor of legalizing polygamy and the practice of pilegesh (concubine) by the Israeli government.



CHRISTIANITY on Polygamy:

-"The monogamy of the Roman Empire was the cause of two explanatory notes in the writings of Josephus describing how the polygamous marriages of Herod were permitted under Jewish custom."

-"Periodically, Christian reform movements that have aimed at rebuilding Christian doctrine based on the Bible alone (sola scriptura) have at least temporarily accepted polygamy as a Biblical practice. For example, during the Protestant Reformation, in a document referred to simply as "Der Beichtrat" (or "The Confessional Advice" ), Martin Luther granted the Landgrave Philip of Hesse, who, for many years, had been living "constantly in a state of adultery and fornication," a dispensation to take a second wife. The double marriage was to be done in secret however, to avoid public scandal. Some fifteen years earlier, in a letter to the Saxon Chancellor Gregor Brück, Luther stated that he could not "forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture." ("Ego sane fateor, me non posse prohibere, si quis plures velit uxores ducere, nec repugnat sacris literis.")

"On February 14, 1650, the parliament at Nürnberg decreed that, because so many men were killed during the Thirty Years’ War, the churches for the following ten years could not admit any man under the age of 60 into a monastery. Priests and ministers not bound by any monastery were allowed to marry. Lastly, the decree stated that every man was allowed to marry up to ten women. The men were admonished to behave honorably, provide for their wives properly, and prevent animosity among them."

[keith]

My last comment on this subject:

Law of Marriage = Ge 2:24
Reaffirmed by Messiah Matt 19:5

Lev 18:18 Thou shalt not take one wife to another to vex her in her lifetime.
(correct translation as confirmed in Dead Sea Scrolls and Samaritan Pentateuch)

These verses are witnesses against those who believe polygamy is, was or will be ok.

Anything else outside of this marriage law is a transgression.

Anyone who teaches men against this plan will need to repent.

Interesting that those who state "Polygamy was not apart of the original plan" and "it is a fact that God did not deem polygamy to be sin; He allowed it to solve a particular problem at that particular time"
are misunderstanding scripture.

For the statements above are mutually exclusive. A parent does not want his child to use drugs. Its not part of any parents plan. However since the child has a big ecam tommorrow and needs to stay up late, the parent will allow him to use cocaine for a time so that he can study longer.

I also like the fact that Trevor has confirmed polygamy was not unique to eastern culture. Yes polygamy was also practiced by western culture. So you see polygamy is a man made transgression of marriage. Every culture has participated in it at some time in their history.

Do you know that according to your interpretive form these two things are allowed:
1. Lesbianism
2. Father- daughter intercourse and marriage

I challenge you or anyone to refute this.

But according to my interpretive method both are transgressions. ?For I do not look for loopholes in the law.

Here again do as you will but for me and my family I will serve Father YAH and not man.

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

"These verses are witnesses against those who believe polygamy is, was or will be ok. Anything else outside of this marriage law is a transgression. Anyone who teaches men against this plan will need to repent."

GOD not only allowed David and Solomon to do it, HE blessed them in and with it. Therefore, by your interpretation the first person that needs to repent is YHWH!!


"For the statements above are mutually exclusive. A parent does not want his child to use drugs. Its not part of any parents plan. However since the child has a big exam tomorrow and needs to stay up late, the parent will allow him to use cocaine for a time so that he can study longer."

OK, that was an example of total and extreme foolishness. If a parent says that drugs are not good in any way shape or form, then goes back and says cocaine for an exam is ok is a fool and a total contradiction. You took a total extreme and tried to make a point, but made both you and your point look foolish!!

Remember this for future reference: trying to use extreme cases to make your point sound valid is a gamble that often ends up making you sound down right stupid to your listeners, and is a gamble that far too often causes you to lose big.


"Do you know that according to your interpretive form these two things are allowed:
1. Lesbianism
2. Father- daughter intercourse and marriage

I challenge you or anyone to refute this."

That again is foolish because both are DIRECTLY spoken against in the Bible. You have yet to show where polygamy is directly rebuked by the Bible. The challenge is, always was, and forever will be on you to show it in scripture because it DOES NOT EXIST!