Marc Stern wrote:
Jacob had four wives. And see Exodus 21:10; Deut 21:15 all of which
assume polygamy.
In the context of an old testament that provides regulations for
virtually everything, down to what kind of fabrics to wear and what to
eat, it's hardly unreasonable to conclude that the lack of condemnation
of polygamy is evidence of God's approval. This is especially true when
he offered revelation both through and about men who engaged in
polygamy, and he allegedly gave them many blessings. What's the
alternative explanation, that it slipped his mind? That he saw fit to
tell us how to conduct ourselves in the most banal and irrelevant items
like how long to keep our hair, but couldn't be bothered to say "only
marry one person"? Or for that matter, "don't own other human beings"?
It just doesn't add up.
Ed Brayton
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