Question about polygamy

[ralliann]

Did God instituted marriage between Adam and Eve before they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? So maybe it was easier for them to be in a Duggar style marriage. We also have the marriage between Mary and Joseph whatever our concept is of that. Then if you study the generations in-between there are marriages in there like Ruth and Boaz. He was an older man and she was a widow. He even talked to her about how she could have had a younger man. That does not look like a Duggar style marriage to me.

They talk about the scarlet thread and the need for Jesus to go to Calvary to bring about redemption. So is polygamy in the Bible God's perfect plan for us or is it something that Jesus went to Calvary to pay the price of redemption and restoration?

There is another point you just reminded me of, Ruth and Boaz. God instituted Levirite marriage. does this command polygamy in many cases? The obligation to marry your sister in law if your brother died before he had children by her. Being kinsman redeemer, the first child is to be listed to the dead brother. There are no stipulation concerning the marital status of the kinsman redeemer. Rather there is a ceremony to publically shame the man who will not perform this service to his kinsman, to spit in his face. This is assumed to occur because the brother is concerned for his own estate (household) being messed with by marrying her. Therefore it is assumed he is worried about his children he has prior to marrying her and providing a son to his brother.
De 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. {her husband’s … : or, her next kinsman }
6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
7 And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. {brother’s: or, next kinsman’s }
8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;
9 Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Ruth 4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

This obligation alone would obligate men to marry another while married. This law was not to a brother which were single only.