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What does the Bible say?:You're suggesting that you know why God allowed polygamy? Must be nice to know the mind of God.
What does the Bible say?:
(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 21:15 - 17)
15 ¶ If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
(Old Testament | 2 Samuel 12:8)
8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Why do you say He does not endorse slavery? God has allowed people to become slaves because of their disobedience.He also made provisions for the treatment of slaves---He does not endorse slavery.
Why do you say He does not endorse slavery? God has allowed people to become slaves because of their disobedience.
He also made provisions for the treatment of slaves---He does not endorse slavery.
Read the OT and that God allowed plural marriage and you have the mind of God written down in the statutes of the Law of Moses pertaining to plural marriage situations.You're suggesting that you know why God allowed polygamy? Must be nice to know the mind of God.
So you think if God had told the Israelites that there should be no slavery, it would have stopped?
Yes, so why did he allow it? Because a slave in Israel was a hundred time better off than a slave in Babylon or etc. So when Israel conquered another city state and they took back women and children, why did the Lord allow for slavery of these people, or to be part of a plural marriage? Because it was 100% better situation from where they came from and would keep them out of prostitution and degradation and finally death.
Slavery and marriage are 2 way different institutions. He endorsed marriage, monogamous or plural, as seen by the statues in the law and other scriptures about marriage. Monogamy was the preferred marriage covenant, but on occasion he allowed plural marriage. From Abraham to Jesus, he allowed it by the Law of Moses.
Just because you have a particular bias against plural marriage, because JS participated in it, you cannot say what the Lord thought about plural marriage, since he participated in it by giving some men their wives, and would have given them more if they desired it.
There were some who abused the marriage covenant and he rebuked them for their sins and their marriage. Do not confuse a rebuke for he did not like or want plural marriage. He allowed it and expected all to be rational, moral, and upright people, working toward the KOG.
God never, ever asked anyone to have more than one wife. I've said it over and over---brothers and sister were allowed to marry for who else was there? Abraham was married to his 1/2 sister. There came a time when that was no longer to be done and He said no more. There were now genetic defects that would occur. There was a time He allowed plural marriages--the NT says one wife. That's it. God just plain doesn't flip back and forth, wily nily----yes, no, yes, no. He certainly never threatened anyone with destruction for not having more than one wife, and never threatened a wife with destruction if she didn't let her husband have more than 1 wife.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
It does not say that God gave David his wives.
2Sa 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
When a King conquered another King the conquered took his enemies wives---that was the custom.
You want this to say that God gave him those many wives---allowing and giving are not the same thing. This meant that whatever David had was granted by God and if David had wanted more things He would have given them to him. It doesn't say that He'd have given to David more wives. He did not ask any of those men with plural wives to take on those extra wives. He never asked Abraham to take another wife, in fact He told him to send her away.
Gen 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
This doesn't say God demanded Lamech to take 2 wives--he took them.
You've never posted a verse that states God demanded, nor even asked, anyone to take on another wife. There isn't one. You can't become one flesh with more than 1 spouse.
It does not say that God gave David his wives.
2Sa 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
You are going to give us Lamech as your shining example of plural marriage. No wonder you are biased against plural marriage. Read your OT all the way through and find all the good people that participated in plural marriage, and then talk to me seriously.God never, ever asked anyone to have more than one wife. I've said it over and over---brothers and sister were allowed to marry for who else was there? Abraham was married to his 1/2 sister. There came a time when that was no longer to be done and He said no more. There were now genetic defects that would occur. There was a time He allowed plural marriages--the NT says one wife. That's it. God just plain doesn't flip back and forth, wily nily----yes, no, yes, no. He certainly never threatened anyone with destruction for not having more than one wife, and never threatened a wife with destruction if she didn't let her husband have more than 1 wife.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
It does not say that God gave David his wives.
2Sa 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
When a King conquered another King the conquered took his enemies wives---that was the custom.
You want this to say that God gave him those many wives---allowing and giving are not the same thing. This meant that whatever David had was granted by God and if David had wanted more things He would have given them to him. It doesn't say that He'd have given to David more wives. He did not ask any of those men with plural wives to take on those extra wives. He never asked Abraham to take another wife, in fact He told him to send her away.
Gen 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
This doesn't say God demanded Lamech to take 2 wives--he took them.
You've never posted a verse that states God demanded, nor even asked, anyone to take on another wife. There isn't one. You can't become one flesh with more than 1 spouse.
You look straight at a scripture that says I gave.... IOW I, God, gave David his wives.
And then you say this does not say that God gave David his wives?
How do you do that?
You are going to give us Lamech as your shining example of plural marriage. No wonder you are biased against plural marriage. Read your OT all the way through and find all the good people that participated in plural marriage, and then talk to me seriously.
(Old Testament | Jeremiah 17:4)What??? He allowed because of the hardness of peoples hearts--as He allowed divorce. He does not want slavery any more than He wanted polygamy. Disobedience my foot. Some were born into it, others were captured in wars, some had to because of debt--many reasons---disobedience is not one them.
(Old Testament | Jeremiah 17:4)
4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
(Old Testament | Jeremiah 49:37 - 39)
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
39 ¶ But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
(Old Testament | Ezekiel 36:12)
12 Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.
The key word in my question was "why." I think it's ok to ignore questions from others to which one has no answer. I've even witnessed folks come right out and say "I don't know." There's no shame in it.What does the Bible say?:
(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 21:15 - 17)
15 ¶ If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
(Old Testament | 2 Samuel 12:8)
8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Most people are slaves to money. Many people serve God.I'm talking about slavery in general!!
I believe God tests people in different ways. It would not be easy to have more than one wife.The key word in my question was "why." I think it's ok to ignore questions from others to which one has no answer. I've even witnessed folks come right out and say "I don't know." There's no shame in it.
.Most people are slaves to money. Many people serve God.