In another post, we talked in general terms about the bad behavior of some of the characters we meet in Genesis. Several of our members have asked specifically, however, about the polygamy. Isn't it surprising that God allowed it?
Years ago -- long enough ago that I don't remember to whom I should attribute this insight -- I learned about a theological distinction between the "perfect will of God" and the "permissive will of God." The perfect will of God, as the name suggests, is the way He wants everything to be. The way it was originally in Eden. The way it will be in heaven.
The so-called permissive will of God, on the other hand, might be defined as what God is willing to allow given the context of a fallen world. War might be a good example here. Clearly war is not a part of God's perfect will. And yet, in an imperfect world, war was sometimes used in the Bible to defeat some wickedness.
The perfect will of God is monogamy. That is the way it is portrayed in the Garden of Eden, and that is the paradigm that Jesus so emphatically endorses in His teaching on marriage and divorce. Yet the post-Eden world is not a perfect place, and so it seems that polygamy was permitted under certain circumstances.
The common misunderstanding that ought to be tempered is the impression that the instances of polygamy in the Bible are evidence of a cultural subjugation of women. On the contrary, the permitted polygamy was a way of protecting and caring for women. Furthermore, the Old Testament Law was careful to protect the rights and needs of the wives who were part of such polygamous arrangements.
The situation in the ancient world was certainly different than what we enjoy in our contemporary Western society. In that context, we recognize that there was little or no way for a woman to support herself. Financially, therefore, she was destined to be dependent upon her father, then her husband, and then perhaps her son. This, incidentally, is part of the cultural backdrop for the story of Ruth and Naomi. It also lies behind the Scriptural emphasis on caring for "widows and orphans," for these would have been some of the most helpless members of society. And it is also why the episode in Nain is so poignant (Matthew 7:11ff). The deceased is identified as the only son of this woman, who was a widow. His death, therefore, was likely to leave her destitute.
Polygamy was not actually widely practiced in ancient Israel. Rather, as we will begin to recognize, it was the distinctive province of the well-to-do. And, as such, it was a kind of benefit to women, for it guaranteed their protection and welfare in a culture where they would have been vulnerable on their own.
Meanwhile, we observe in the Law a wholesome concern for women who were in such polygamous marriages. In the chapter immediately following the Ten Commandments, the Law stipulates that if a man "marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights" (Exodus 21:10 NIV).
In the end, we can be assured that monogamy is portrayed as the perfect will of God for human beings. At the same time, however, we need not be disturbed by the instances of polygamy among the characters in the Bible. The practice was actually a mercy in a culture that might otherwise leave an unmarried woman destitute, and the Law sought to guarantee the rights of the women who were participants in it.
Years ago -- long enough ago that I don't remember to whom I should attribute this insight -- I learned about a theological distinction between the "perfect will of God" and the "permissive will of God." The perfect will of God, as the name suggests, is the way He wants everything to be. The way it was originally in Eden. The way it will be in heaven.
The so-called permissive will of God, on the other hand, might be defined as what God is willing to allow given the context of a fallen world. War might be a good example here. Clearly war is not a part of God's perfect will. And yet, in an imperfect world, war was sometimes used in the Bible to defeat some wickedness.
The perfect will of God is monogamy. That is the way it is portrayed in the Garden of Eden, and that is the paradigm that Jesus so emphatically endorses in His teaching on marriage and divorce. Yet the post-Eden world is not a perfect place, and so it seems that polygamy was permitted under certain circumstances.
The common misunderstanding that ought to be tempered is the impression that the instances of polygamy in the Bible are evidence of a cultural subjugation of women. On the contrary, the permitted polygamy was a way of protecting and caring for women. Furthermore, the Old Testament Law was careful to protect the rights and needs of the wives who were part of such polygamous arrangements.
The situation in the ancient world was certainly different than what we enjoy in our contemporary Western society. In that context, we recognize that there was little or no way for a woman to support herself. Financially, therefore, she was destined to be dependent upon her father, then her husband, and then perhaps her son. This, incidentally, is part of the cultural backdrop for the story of Ruth and Naomi. It also lies behind the Scriptural emphasis on caring for "widows and orphans," for these would have been some of the most helpless members of society. And it is also why the episode in Nain is so poignant (Matthew 7:11ff). The deceased is identified as the only son of this woman, who was a widow. His death, therefore, was likely to leave her destitute.
Polygamy was not actually widely practiced in ancient Israel. Rather, as we will begin to recognize, it was the distinctive province of the well-to-do. And, as such, it was a kind of benefit to women, for it guaranteed their protection and welfare in a culture where they would have been vulnerable on their own.
Meanwhile, we observe in the Law a wholesome concern for women who were in such polygamous marriages. In the chapter immediately following the Ten Commandments, the Law stipulates that if a man "marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights" (Exodus 21:10 NIV).
In the end, we can be assured that monogamy is portrayed as the perfect will of God for human beings. At the same time, however, we need not be disturbed by the instances of polygamy among the characters in the Bible. The practice was actually a mercy in a culture that might otherwise leave an unmarried woman destitute, and the Law sought to guarantee the rights of the women who were participants in it.