Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: taxcontrol
But polygamy was practiced by the Jews, though not common.

It had ceased to exist among the Jews by the time of the Second Temple.

In fact, the Jewish law can create a situation where polygamy is the normal required behavior. If you doubt me, read up on when a man must marry his brother's widow.

His choice is either to marry his brother's childless widow or to refuse and be repudiated by her in public.

In practice, the Jews preferred to marry the brother's widow off to an as-yet-unmarried son.

Actual polygamous levirate marriages were probably quite rare, and were usually ended in divorce once they had produced an heir.

In theory, one could marry one's deceased brother's wife, impregnate her with a male heir on the wedding night and divorce her as soon as she gave birth to a son.

Other than that, the Hebrew Scriptures take a pretty negative attitude toward polygamy. It is adduced as a contributing factor to the troubles of King David's monarchy (the Bathsheba incident, the rivalry of David's sons), the cause of Solomon's apostasy and as a source of strife in the home life of the patriarchs.

It is obvious that Jacob did not want to be married to Leah, that Abraham did not want to be married to Hagar who winds up giving issue to the Ishmaelite enemies of the Jews, it is obvious that polygamy was a source of great pain for Hannah, the righteous mother of the prophet Samuel.

Everytime polygamy is discussed in the Hebrew Scriptures it is not valorized.

20 posted on 12/13/2006 12:16:57 PM PST by wideawake ("The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies ]


To: wideawake
Your assertion that Jews had given up the practice of polygamy by the Second Temple is patently and provably false. Jews were practicing polygamy well into the middle ages.

In theory, one could marry one's deceased brother's wife, impregnate her with a male heir on the wedding night and divorce her as soon as she gave birth to a son.

You need to go back and study the allowable reasons for divorce were under Jewish law.

Everytime polygamy is discussed in the Hebrew Scriptures it is not valorized.

Once again, a false statement. David's wives were given as a BLESSING FROM GOD. Solomon was never reproached for his polygamy. Rather he was reproached for not keeping his heart on God and loving foreign women 1 Kings 11:2

Now read 2 Samuel 12:8 and answer me this.... What did GOD tell David that he should have done?
33 posted on 12/13/2006 3:11:39 PM PST by taxcontrol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson