Book of jacob polygamy in the bible

The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. Abraham, jacob, david, solomon, and others all had multiple wives. How might readers make sense of this connection between polygamy and material wealth. Polygamy has been practiced by many cultures throughout history 3 there are numerous examples of polygamy among close followers, devotees, and the faithful to god in the old testament, but it is generally not accepted by most contemporary christians, though other christian groups permit the practice. While fleeing from saul, he took two other wives 1 samuel 25. Now, lets look at the second chapter of jacob again. The bible is a realistic book, and it doesnt spare any of the gory details. The conditions of jacobs marriages were such that it is hard to say whether any of his children were of any other than of polygamous origin genesis 35. Mar 10, 2020 neal rappleye, jacob on polygamy in historical context, studio et quoque fide march 9, 2020. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. If you were to study the bible, you would see it is in agreement with the book of mormon on this matter. Although monogamy was clearly gods intent genesis 2. The first 10 chapters as well as 9 verses of the 11th chapter ge 1. The problems produced by the polygamy of the patriarchs catholic.

Jacob is not primarily to be blamed for the polygamy that brought trouble into his homelife and sowed the seeds of division and jealousy in the nation of the future. Jacob 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Highlights from the book of genesis ii from the creation of the first man, adam, to the death of jacobs son joseph, genesis covers 2,369 years of human history. Even going back to adam and eve, polygamy was not gods original intent. Mar 28, 2016 jacob 2 describes how the prophet jacob condemned materialism and sexual immorality, including unauthorized plural marriage. Jacob specified that plural marriage may be practiced when god commanded it, but insisted that monogamy was otherwise the norm. May 22, 2019 lefteris tserkezis answer is probably the closest to my own understanding so far.

I will share the way i interpret them, but i invite the reader to prayerfully read these verses and come to their own conclusions. And because the early lamanites kept the commandment against plural marriage, concubinage, and whoredoms, jacob told the nephites that the lord god will. Many other men in the bible practiced polygamy, such as abraham, solomon, david, and jacob. It is important to remember that the bible records many acts of both sin and righteousness. Here a few observations about polygamy in the bible that will help you. Polygamy domestic unhappiness in jacob s family genesis 29. For example, the stories of abraham, jacob, david and solomon show the problems that come with having more than one wife. May 24, 2011 historically, members of the latterday saints lds or mormons practiced polygamy, although the acceptance of the practice changed as new revelation was given to the prophets of the church. Understanding jacobs teachings about plural marriage from a law. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the lord. Jacob, son of isaac and rebecca, twin brother of esau, husband of the sisters rachel and leah, and father of the twelve sons who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of israel. The bibles answer for a time, god did permit a man to have more than one wife.

There is simply not any bible verse in the old or new testaments that forbids polygamy. With regard to the polygamyconcubinage of jacob, in addition to the narrative bristling with details of the disastrous consequences of polygamy in jacobs dysfunctional family, there are also hints in the text that after jacobs wrestling with the angel at the jabbok river gen. Polygamy is the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. Bible verses related to polygamy from the king james version kjv by book order sort by relevance genesis 4. Any christian claiming polygamy is completely wrong and always has been is going to struggle with abraham one wife and at least one concubine and jacob two wives. In biblical times it was common to find the custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. Was polygamyadultery allowed in the book of genesis. It is important for us to understand that at certain times in the history of the world, the lord has. Did the ot writers promote polygamy or prohibit it. Jacob 2 and 3, censorship, and mormonisms avoidance of stubborn book of mormon truth, part 1 august 7, 2019 august 8, 2019 m. Mitchell two sundays ago, the lesson in my lds priesthood meeting centered around a talk by becky craven in the april 2019 general conference entitled careful versus casual. The passage from the book of mormon condemns david and solomons practice and the practice of plural. Did jacob practice polygamy in the old testament answers.

A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship 25 2017. One of the biggest hurdles to believing the bible is the content of the first testament. The question of polygamy is an interesting one in that most people today view polygamy as immoral while the bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. As you read through the bible you immediately become aware that this is a book. Abraham and hagar abraham took hagar as his wife after sarah, his first wife, could not conceive children. The problems produced by the polygamy of the patriarchs. In the book of genesis, gods plan for marriage is set forth poetically but. I was having a conversation with my boyfriend, and he claimed that nowhere in the bible does god condemn polygamy because all the great men of god in the bible had more than one wife and concubines. In the book of jacob in the book of mormon, jacob preaches to the people following. The truth is that the story of polygamy in the old testament is, well, a problem. Next, you have to read every book to the end, and especially in its biblical context. The other polygamists in scripture were lamech a descendant of cain who killed a guy and esau who well he was esau, nuff said we dont see any of the twelve sons of jacob having mutliple wives, moses, joshua, caleb, the judges not even sampson or the prophets. The book of mormon explains that only when god commands it can a man have more than one wife at a time.

What the bible says about polygamy there are many polygamists in the bible. Several prominent men in the old testament were polygamists. What the bible really says about polygamy bible and. For behold, as i inquired of the lord, thus came the word unto me, saying. In fact, the bible says that god gave david his plural wives. Historically, members of the latterday saints lds or mormons practiced polygamy, although the acceptance of the practice changed as new revelation was given to the prophets of the church. Polygamy is also found in many societies which do not believe in the bible, and in most cases that. What the bible says about polygamy the annotated bible. While i dont believe in the book of mormon, i do believe in grammar. Nov 19, 2015 to the modern proponents of polygamy as opposed to biblical polygamy, which was entirely different, our forefather jacob is the shining example after all, he had four wives right. He says this does not count as adultery because the other women isare your wifewives as well. Although much of israels history can be summed up in the rivalry of leah and racheljudah and josephyet it was not jacob s choice but labans fraud that introduced this cause. Just because the bible records an event that occurred does not mean that god approves of the event.

For an exploration into the biblical context of this passage, see brian j. Bible verses related to polygamy from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order exodus 21. The purpose of the book, in his own words, is to persuade all men to come unto christ jacob 1. Though many conservatives claim that the christian scriptures teach only one model for marriageone man. Outside the book of genesis there still remains almost the entire outline of jacobs life josh 24. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. The bible contains historical accounts of past events, prophesies about the future events, and instructions from god about spiritual life. What the book of mormon says about polygamy the annotated bible.

The second chapter of the book of jacob in the book of mormon contains the only explicit teaching about polygamy in the nephite record. Some of them were gods favorite people including abraham, jacob, gideon, solomon, and david. Later on in the new testament, the bible makes it clear that he intends marriage to be between one man and one womanas it was from the beginning matthew 19. When the bible records episodes of polygamy, unhappiness was always the result. From polygamy to incest, confronting the old testaments. Why does the book of mormon warn against seeking after. What biblical evidence is there for god allowing polygamy. The brother of nephi, usually referred to as the book of jacob, is the third of fifteen books in the book of mormon.

There were several prominent men in the old testament who were polygamists. The unloved wife who all the same bore her husband. Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. In other words, when the lords commands it, polygamy is acceptable.

During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives. Where the family idea and affection went, in such mixed condition, is evidenced by the unblushing sale, for slavery in egypt, of one of the brothers by the others genesis 37. It is the word by which a reason is introduced of something before advanced websters 1828 dictionary. God seems to have allowed polygamy to solve a problem in brutal times, but it is not the ideal. If the book of genesis were lost, the significance as well as the basic outline of his life can be reconstructed. The first instance of polygamy in the bible was that of lamech in genesis 4. From 1830 to 1876, lds scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy.

Baird, understanding jacobs teachings about plural marriage from a law of moses context, interpreter. The conditions of jacob s marriages were such that it is hard to say whether any of his children were of any other than of polygamous origin genesis 35. Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious studies. The book of mormon contradicts itself and the bible.

The first instance of polygamybigamy in the bible was that of lamech in genesis 4. Although much of israels history can be summed up in the rivalry of leah and racheljudah and josephyet it was not jacobs choice but labans fraud that introduced this cause. First, description is not the same as prescription. If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her. After becoming king and establishing jerusalem as his capital, he took him more concubines and wives, one of them being bathsheba, the mother of solomon 2 samuel 5. The patriarchs abraham and jacob themselves had multiple wives and. After that jacob preached against the practice of polygamy.

Aug 31, 2014 in conclusion, while the patriarchs of the book of genesis did practice adulterypolygamy, it doesnt mean that it was right in the eyes of god. In the above verse, if polygamy were allowable,the entire illustration of christs relationship with his body the church and the husbandwife relationship falls apart. Why it was permitted is the subject of theological debate. The brother of nephi, usually referred to as the book of jacob, is the third of. Well, thats what i thought for many years as well and it was no wonder i was looking through a lens colored by modern movies, television shows, and ten. Jewish tradition normally emphasizes that polygamy was never looked upon as a good thing but was permitted as a concession to the realities of the world in which the ancient jews lived. Maimonides, in his guide of the perplexed book 3, ch. That jacob speaks ill of these biblical polygamists but not righteous men such as abraham and jacob, who also married multiple wives genesis 16.

The bible and multiple wives and concubines several prominent men in the old testament were polygamists. Feb 29, 2016 polygamy in the book of mormon the book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. How jacobs teachings about pride and polygamy still apply. Indeed, the righteous lehi was a wealthy man 1 nephi 3. According to the text, it was written by the ancient prophet jacob.