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Plural marriage and the Bible
Contents
Important introductory material on plural marriage available here
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Criticism
Critics claim that plural marriage has no Biblical precedents—they point to condemnation of King David and King Solomon as evidence that polygamy is always forbidden by God.
Source(s) of the criticism
- Search for the Truth DVD (2007)
Response
Critics take an extremely limited survey of the Bible with this claim. It is true that David and Solomon were condemned for some of their marriage practices, especially . This problem was mentioned in Deuteronomy:
- 15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother...17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away... (Deuteronomy 17꞉15,17
The command to kings is that they: a) not multiply wives to themselves (i.e., only those who hold proper priesthood keys may approve plural marriage—see Jacob 2꞉30, DC 132꞉38-39.) b) that these wives not be those who turn his heart away from God.
David and Solomon are excellent examples of both of these Biblical principles.
David
David is well-known for his sin with Bathsheba and Urriah (see 2 Samuel 11꞉1-27. Nathan the prophet arrived to condemn David's behavior, and told the king:
- 7 ¶ And Nathan said to David...Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
- 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
- 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
- 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. (2 Samuel 12꞉7-10)
Nathan here tells David that the Lord "gave thee...thy master's wives." And, the Lord says, through His prophet, that He would have given even more than He has already given of political power, wives, and wealth.
But, David sinned and did evil in the matter of Uriah. If plural marriage is always a sin to God, then why did Nathan not take the opportunity to condemn David for it now? Or, why did the prophet not come earlier?
Solomon
Conclusion
Endnotes
None