The number of wives and concubines as well as offspring and property was not only a symbol of social distinction, but more importantly the favor of God. Monogamy, on the other hand, was the badge of poverty. The patriarchs were chiefly polygamists: Gideon had many wives, David increased the number of his with his advancement in political power, Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. Rehoboam, Abijah, Zedekiah had both wives and concubines, and the "palace-women" of Hezekiah are cited in the list of booty taken by Sennacherib from Jerusalem. Not only does the law permit polygamy (Deut. 21:10-15), the Song of Songs celebrates it (6:8), the prophetic literature makes use of it as a symbol in ascribing two wives to Yahweh, Israel and Judah (Ezek. chap. 23), and the Wisdom literature reveals its existence ( Prov. 30:23).
The background of Gen. 2: 18, 24 is father-right versus mother-right, rather than monogamy versus polygamy. The man alone had the right of divorce. This is partly due to the commercial form of marriage, whereby the woman belongs absolutely to the man. Her economic value is his; her love and fidelity are his due. On the other hand, the man is legally held only to "her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage" (Exod. 21:10). Infidelity, adultery, is an attack upon property-rights, punishable, like robbery, by death (Gen 44:9; Deut. 22:22-27; Lev. 20:10). Since the woman is the possessed and not the possessor, her personal grievances never enter into the situation excepting when the influence of her family is exerted in her behalf (II Sam., chap. 13). It becomes a less serious wrong to violate an unbetrothed than a betrothed maiden (Deut. 22:28; Exod. 22: 16).
The background of Gen. 2: 18, 24 is father-right versus mother-right, rather than monogamy versus polygamy. The man alone had the right of divorce. This is partly due to the commercial form of marriage, whereby the woman belongs absolutely to the man. Her economic value is his; her love and fidelity are his due. On the other hand, the man is legally held only to "her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage" (Exod. 21:10). Infidelity, adultery, is an attack upon property-rights, punishable, like robbery, by death (Gen 44:9; Deut. 22:22-27; Lev. 20:10). Since the woman is the possessed and not the possessor, her personal grievances never enter into the situation excepting when the influence of her family is exerted in her behalf (II Sam., chap. 13). It becomes a less serious wrong to violate an unbetrothed than a betrothed maiden (Deut. 22:28; Exod. 22: 16).
Last edited: