Scriptural evidence indicates that polygamy among the ancient Hebrews, though not extremely common, was not particularly unusual and was certainly not prohibited or discouraged. The Hebrew scriptures document approximately forty polygamists, including such prominent figures as
Abraham,
Jacob,
Esau, and
David, with little or no further remark on their polygamy as such. 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;
Deuteronomy 21:15-17, which 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
[14]; and Deuteronomy 17:17, which states that the king shall not have too many wives.
[15] 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. All of those instances of polygamy, however, are very narrow cases rather than general rules.
Exodus 21:10 speaks of Jewish concubines.
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 speaks of the children of "hated wife" implying she is divorced. The king's behavior is condemned by Prophet Samuel in 1Samuel 8. Israeli lexicographer Vadim Cherny argues that the Torah carefully distinguishes concubines and "sub-standard" wives with prefix "to", lit. "took to wives."
[16]