Apparently you didn't understand my comment...'twas in response to you saying that even if it was a one-night stand 'tween Abram & Hagar, they were STILL husband-and-wife. And I then pointed out David's initial "one-night stand" with Bathsheba...and that if a one-night stand constituted "marriage," then Bathsheba would have to had been a polyandrist..."married" to Uriah & then "married" once upon sleeping with David.
I am the one claiming that just as Bathsheba was NOT married to David upon sleeping with him when Uriah was still alive, neither was Hagar a "wife" to Abram except INITIALLY -- and ONLY initially when you read Gen. 21 -- in Sarai's eyes ALONE. Sarah is the ONLY one who ever once regarded Hagar as a "wife" -- your citation in early Gen. 16.
By Gen. 21, she changed her mind about that.
And, working backwards, the Apostle Paul regarded Hagar as a slave & not Abraham's wife (Gal. 4:22-24)
Moses ... same thing (see Gen. 21)
God Himself...same thing (Gen. 21:11-12)
Angel of the Lord Himself...whom many regard as pre-incarnated Son of God...same thing (Gen. 21:8-9)
Abraham (Gen. 16:6)
Even Hagar in Gen. 16:7 doesn't say she is running away from her "husband" Abraham...instead she says she is running away from the one who owns her...her "mistress" (female word for "master")
So Hagar knew (Gen. 16:7);
Abraham knew it (Gen. 16:6);
Angel of the Lord knew it (Gen. 16:8-9);
God Himself knew it (Gen. 21:12);
Moses knew it (Gen. 21);
Paul knew it (Gal. 4:22-24);
and even Sarah knew it ... albeit too late to change what she did (Gen. 21:9-10)
(But I guess you remain in the dark, eh?)
It is a fact that Solomon was married to multiple women at the same time.
So what?
Are you advocating that since you apparently think God instructed Solomon to take up 300 concubines & 700 wives, that others should? Or do you think that since you believe God somehow sanctioned concubinage, that 'tis OK for anybody here to do so, too? And hey...why not 300 of them? Nothing wrong with that, you imply?
It is a fact that David was married to more than one wife at the same time.
Again, so what? It's also a fact David committed adultery with Bathsheba...and since God placed David as king, are you attempting to convey that God somehow sanctions adultery as well?
It's also a fact that Hosea married Gomer the Prostitute.
It's also a fact that Gomer CONTINUED to prostitute herself post-marriage.
And even beyond this -- unlike your polygamy & concubine scenarios -- in which we find no verses where God tells them to do that...we CAN see where God indeed told Hosea to marry a prostitute.
Therefore, are you suggesting that God somehow sanctions prostitution within the marriage bed?
I mean, exactly what is your goal in promoting polygamy as "Biblical."
Tamar was raped. That, too, is "Biblical" by YOUR standards. Just because all kinds of sexual sin is in the Bible, doesn't make it sanctioned by God. (Has that ever dawned on you?)
Colofornian, thanks for asking for my opinion.
You are right. Sin is in the Bible but that doesn’t make it right.
Look, you have been posting posting Mormon stuff for years on a political forum. It’s a strange obsession of yours, but whatever. Post what you want.
Based on that, we are never going to agree on anything related to anything Mormon. But, there’s a chance we can agree on some concepts especially things in the Bible. You obviously don’t try to find common ground,lol.
But here is my opinion and explanation on polygamy. My great great grandfather had 5 wives.
Obviously God created sex. He commanded Adam and Eve to have sex(multiply). Animals have sex.
But, sex is always a sin unless it is between husband and wife. But even that can be a sin if done on a busy street corner or done for Internet porn.
Sex isn’t always sin just like killing isn’t always sin. God’s chosen people and prophets did a lot of killing. God helped them kill their enemies. God has killed millions of his own children. But his commandment is thou shalt not kill(murder).
Polygamy still involves sex between a husband and wife. Sometimes polygamy is acceptable to God as with some of the prophets and Solomon and David up until Bathsheba. But most of the time God does not allow polygamy and it is sinful. That is why there seems to be contradictions in the Bible and contradictions in Mormon history on the subject of polygamy.
I have no desire to be a polygamist but I have a hard enough time keeping my own marriage together.
I have given proof that some of God’s chosen prophets and kings were polygamists, even with sisters, and yet you still believe the Bible is the word of God, as do I.
Yes, polygamy is controversial and the subject is often avoided by the Mormons just like the subject of polygamy in the bible is not a popular subject in most every other Bible church. Even you have a problem with polygamy in the Bible and run from it.
For me, I have no problem with polygamy and also believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God with over 40 wives and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.