Perhaps the most ridiculous argument of all made by anti-polygamists is that "Polygamists only want more sex." This statement is fundamentally flawed because ALL marriage includes an element of sex. One could easily say to a single man marrying his first wife that he is only doing so because he "wants more sex." Indeed, one would hope that he is blessed with more sex in his marriage than he had as a single man. Can anyone making this argument present a case that it is normal for a couple, either mono or poly, to marry with no intention to be fruitful and multiply? Yah forbid. A sexless marriage not only is a drudgery, it borders on being a curse.
Secondly, supposing a married man only "wanted more sex." I could give millions of examples of men who have done just that. Either they have hired a prostitute or have had secret relations with another single woman with no intention to form a family with her or, worst of all, have carried on an adulterous relationship with another man's wife. Having "more sex" comes easily in our society. Taking the responsibility of a family doesn't. There are millions of bastards conceived out of wedlock because of men and women wanting "more sex." A man who is a servant of the Most High wants the blessings of family. He covets finding a "good thing" and raising godly seed. He feels that it is his calling to expand the kingdom of YHWH by being fruitful and multiplying. He takes wives for the blessings while considering the awesome responsibility that comes with expanding a family. He seeks to follow the examples of our forefathers - Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, David and Solomon. He recognizes that "in the beginning" set a precedent for the patriarchal family and trembles in fear of YHWH as he seeks to fulfill that divine mission.
Lastly, making such a statement not only shows ignorance of the Torah, it insults YHWH's anointed throughout the ages. At the least, it makes men that YHWH favored nothing but self-satisfying perverts. It also questions the origins of not only the people of Israel (brought forth by a man with four wives), but the origins of the Messiah Yahushua Himself who comes from that lineage and promises to take each believer as a wife unto Himself.
I pray that anyone making such a foolish statement would repent and think things through. And I pray that many servants of YHWH find many wives and have plenty of "more sex" and build YHWH's kingdom through raising godly seed.
Polygamy Advocate - Defending Torah Plural Marriage in the hope of fulfilling Yeshayahu 4:1. "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We shall eat our own food and wear our own clothes; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.”"
Showing posts with label polygamy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label polygamy. Show all posts
24 November 2012
08 September 2012
The man with seven wives
A beautiful story about a man with seven wives.
http://www.4thought.tv/themes/is-adultery-always-wrong/philip-sharp
http://www.4thought.tv/themes/is-adultery-always-wrong/philip-sharp
08 May 2012
Win $1000.00 from Polygamy Advocate
I've gotten a few negative comments recently. So, I'm putting my money where my mouth is...
Take the $1000.00 Polygamy Challenge!*
RULES
In order to receive the prize you must do the following:
1) Grab a notebook and pen.
2) Watch the playlist below. Run time is just under 5 hours. (But, hey, how often can you make $1000 in five hours?)
3) You must take notes from each video to prove that you have viewed the entire presentation.
4) After completing the above presentation and taking extensive notes, submit any of the following:
a. A verse in the Scripture that shows that plural marriage is sinful. or
b. An example from Scripture where someone is condemned for polygamy. or
c. Scriptural proof that plural marriage is not valid.
5) Post your answer to number 4 along with your notes and your e-mail address on http://www.facebook.com/PolygamyAdvocates
6) THE CATCH - If you can successfully complete the above steps, you win $1000.00 AND I will post your winning entry here. (Today's Roman date is 05-08-12 - let's see how long it takes to get a winner)
HOWEVER, if you attempt the challenge and cannot successfully complete it, you must submit a post to http://www.facebook.com/PolygamyAdvocates stating that indeed there is nothing in Scripture that indicates that plural marriage is sinful or invalid. I'm putting my money on the line, you must put your testimony on the line.
*Contest is only open to residents of U.S. or Canada. Prize may be paid by electronic transfer or gift certificate. In the event of more than one winning entry, winner will be determined by draw.
Take the $1000.00 Polygamy Challenge!*
RULES
In order to receive the prize you must do the following:
1) Grab a notebook and pen.
2) Watch the playlist below. Run time is just under 5 hours. (But, hey, how often can you make $1000 in five hours?)
3) You must take notes from each video to prove that you have viewed the entire presentation.
4) After completing the above presentation and taking extensive notes, submit any of the following:
a. A verse in the Scripture that shows that plural marriage is sinful. or
b. An example from Scripture where someone is condemned for polygamy. or
c. Scriptural proof that plural marriage is not valid.
5) Post your answer to number 4 along with your notes and your e-mail address on http://www.facebook.com/PolygamyAdvocates
6) THE CATCH - If you can successfully complete the above steps, you win $1000.00 AND I will post your winning entry here. (Today's Roman date is 05-08-12 - let's see how long it takes to get a winner)
HOWEVER, if you attempt the challenge and cannot successfully complete it, you must submit a post to http://www.facebook.com/PolygamyAdvocates stating that indeed there is nothing in Scripture that indicates that plural marriage is sinful or invalid. I'm putting my money on the line, you must put your testimony on the line.
*Contest is only open to residents of U.S. or Canada. Prize may be paid by electronic transfer or gift certificate. In the event of more than one winning entry, winner will be determined by draw.
07 May 2012
Polygamist Spotlight #3b - Avraham (cont)
Upon further investigation into the life of Avraham, I have discovered one of the greatest Scriptural texts that distinguishes between Adultery and Plural marriage. The text is located in B'reisheet (Genesis) Chapter 20:
Here we see Avraham traveling with Sarah, his wife and entering the land of Gerar. Out of fear of the inhabitants of the land, he tells a half-truth and describes Sarah as his sister. Sarah is described as what would be known today as a "hottie" (i.e. very attractive) and she is taken by King Avimelech to become one of his wives. Avimelech at this point has no idea that she is a married woman.
YHWH is furious! To take another man's wife is a violation of His revealed will! YHWH confronts Avimelech. B'reisheet 20: 3 But Elohim came to Avimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, See, you are but a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife.
The penalty for adultery is DEATH! YHWH is threatening to kill Avimelech for this sin. (Note that Avimelech is already married to many women and not a word is said about his polygamy - for all those other women are his legal wives)
Avimelech then poses a question to YHWH:
4 But Avimelech had not come near her: and he said, YHWH, will You kill also a tzadik nation?
5 Didn’t he say to me, She is my sister? And she, even said herself, He is my brother. In the integrity of my lev and innocence of my hands have I done this.
Avimelech claims to be righteous and innocent of the charges. "I was lied to by both Avraham and Sarah. My heart is pure before you. Will you also destroy the righteous?"
Pay careful attention to YHWH's answer to Avimelech.
B'reisheet 20:6 And Elohim said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your lev; for I also withheld you from sinning against Me: therefore I allowed you not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man to his wife; for he is a navi, and he shall make tefillah for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that belongs to you.
YHWH agrees with him! Yes, I know you were innocent in wanting to take Sarah as another wife, you didn't know that she was married. I take adultery very seriously and it will mean your life if you don't return her to her husband, my prophet. You haven't sinned in wanting another wife. But you can't have this married woman.
Avimelech is never condemned for his polygamy or for wanting to add another spouse. The distinction here is that he was taking a woman who belonged by covenant to another patriarch.
Yahuwah later puts into place laws concerning adultery and marriage. Looking at these laws will help us to understand His mindset in this situation with Sarah.
Devarim 22:22 If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away evil from Yisrael.
If a man (regardless of his marital status) has sexual relations with a married woman - they shall both be stoned to death. This is EVIL. This is unacceptable behavior for Yisra'elites. This is adultery. (The determination is based solely on the marital status of the woman)
Devarim 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin is engaged to a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her; 24 Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor's wife: so you shall put away evil from among you.
This law applies to a virgin who is engaged (more accurately - betrothed). Again, it is the status of the woman that makes the determination. It doesn't matter if the man is married or not. Being a betrothed virgin is legally binding upon the maiden as belonging to another man. The law also only applies within the city. If the girl claims that she was raped, yet doesn't cry out "RAPE!", she is also found guilty and they are both stoned. Again, this is called "evil" by YHWH. How many "Christian" pastors will condemn plural marriage from the pulpit, yet give this action a free pass?
Devarim 22:25 But if a man finds an engaged damsel in the field, and the man forces her, and lies with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. 26 But to the damsel you shall do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and slays him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the engaged damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
Again we see an engaged (betrothed) virgin. This is a rape scenario that occurs in the field (away from the city). Here, the man (married or not) only is put to death. The girl is compared with a murder victim and it said that she has no sin worthy of death. While the adjective "evil" is not expressly used, the comparison to murder makes that point clear.
Devarim 22:28 If a man finds a damsel that is a virgin, who is not engaged, and lays hold of her, and lies with her, and they are found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give to the damsel's abba fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
Wait a minute! What is this? Here we see that a virgin who is not engaged is raped by a man (married or not). There is no death penalty associated with adultery. The man's sentence? He must pay the girl's father and she becomes his wife "till death do us part". Now, before anyone goes accusing YHWH for promoting rape of innocent virgins, notice that the man is permanently stuck with this woman. What kind of wife do you think she will be to him, knowing that he raped her? Any man who has ever been in a horrible marriage can attest to the fact that a bad marriage is literally hell on earth. Such a man will be the first to spread the word of the horrible consequences of rape. But, see, that the man could have already been married, raped this virgin and now will spend the rest of his life under the weight of two simultaneous bad marriages! However, the point remains that the man would still be obligated to take a second wife. There is no mention of this being "evil" like in previous examples. Finally, to finish this section we see:
Devarim 22:30 A man shall not take his abba's wife, nor discover his abba's skirt.
Why doesn't YHWH simply say "You shall not sleep with your mother"? Because Yisra'el was a polygamous nation! Polygamy was commonplace. So, by saying "your father's wife" all bases are covered. That is why we see so many laws governing polygamy, not forbidding it.
Now the previous conversation with Avimelech makes more sense. Avimelech thought he was betrothing himself to an unmarried woman. (An innocent act - even though he was a married man). Yet, in reality, he was trying to marry a woman that was already the property of another man. YHWH takes marriage and adultery VERY seriously. So should we. Further, our definitions of marriage and adultery must line up with His person and His word!
Here we see Avraham traveling with Sarah, his wife and entering the land of Gerar. Out of fear of the inhabitants of the land, he tells a half-truth and describes Sarah as his sister. Sarah is described as what would be known today as a "hottie" (i.e. very attractive) and she is taken by King Avimelech to become one of his wives. Avimelech at this point has no idea that she is a married woman.
YHWH is furious! To take another man's wife is a violation of His revealed will! YHWH confronts Avimelech. B'reisheet 20: 3 But Elohim came to Avimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, See, you are but a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man's wife.
The penalty for adultery is DEATH! YHWH is threatening to kill Avimelech for this sin. (Note that Avimelech is already married to many women and not a word is said about his polygamy - for all those other women are his legal wives)
Avimelech then poses a question to YHWH:
4 But Avimelech had not come near her: and he said, YHWH, will You kill also a tzadik nation?
5 Didn’t he say to me, She is my sister? And she, even said herself, He is my brother. In the integrity of my lev and innocence of my hands have I done this.
Avimelech claims to be righteous and innocent of the charges. "I was lied to by both Avraham and Sarah. My heart is pure before you. Will you also destroy the righteous?"
Pay careful attention to YHWH's answer to Avimelech.
B'reisheet 20:6 And Elohim said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your lev; for I also withheld you from sinning against Me: therefore I allowed you not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man to his wife; for he is a navi, and he shall make tefillah for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that belongs to you.
YHWH agrees with him! Yes, I know you were innocent in wanting to take Sarah as another wife, you didn't know that she was married. I take adultery very seriously and it will mean your life if you don't return her to her husband, my prophet. You haven't sinned in wanting another wife. But you can't have this married woman.
Avimelech is never condemned for his polygamy or for wanting to add another spouse. The distinction here is that he was taking a woman who belonged by covenant to another patriarch.
Yahuwah later puts into place laws concerning adultery and marriage. Looking at these laws will help us to understand His mindset in this situation with Sarah.
Devarim 22:22 If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away evil from Yisrael.
If a man (regardless of his marital status) has sexual relations with a married woman - they shall both be stoned to death. This is EVIL. This is unacceptable behavior for Yisra'elites. This is adultery. (The determination is based solely on the marital status of the woman)
Devarim 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin is engaged to a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her; 24 Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor's wife: so you shall put away evil from among you.
This law applies to a virgin who is engaged (more accurately - betrothed). Again, it is the status of the woman that makes the determination. It doesn't matter if the man is married or not. Being a betrothed virgin is legally binding upon the maiden as belonging to another man. The law also only applies within the city. If the girl claims that she was raped, yet doesn't cry out "RAPE!", she is also found guilty and they are both stoned. Again, this is called "evil" by YHWH. How many "Christian" pastors will condemn plural marriage from the pulpit, yet give this action a free pass?
Devarim 22:25 But if a man finds an engaged damsel in the field, and the man forces her, and lies with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. 26 But to the damsel you shall do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and slays him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the engaged damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
Again we see an engaged (betrothed) virgin. This is a rape scenario that occurs in the field (away from the city). Here, the man (married or not) only is put to death. The girl is compared with a murder victim and it said that she has no sin worthy of death. While the adjective "evil" is not expressly used, the comparison to murder makes that point clear.
Devarim 22:28 If a man finds a damsel that is a virgin, who is not engaged, and lays hold of her, and lies with her, and they are found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give to the damsel's abba fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
Wait a minute! What is this? Here we see that a virgin who is not engaged is raped by a man (married or not). There is no death penalty associated with adultery. The man's sentence? He must pay the girl's father and she becomes his wife "till death do us part". Now, before anyone goes accusing YHWH for promoting rape of innocent virgins, notice that the man is permanently stuck with this woman. What kind of wife do you think she will be to him, knowing that he raped her? Any man who has ever been in a horrible marriage can attest to the fact that a bad marriage is literally hell on earth. Such a man will be the first to spread the word of the horrible consequences of rape. But, see, that the man could have already been married, raped this virgin and now will spend the rest of his life under the weight of two simultaneous bad marriages! However, the point remains that the man would still be obligated to take a second wife. There is no mention of this being "evil" like in previous examples. Finally, to finish this section we see:
Devarim 22:30 A man shall not take his abba's wife, nor discover his abba's skirt.
Why doesn't YHWH simply say "You shall not sleep with your mother"? Because Yisra'el was a polygamous nation! Polygamy was commonplace. So, by saying "your father's wife" all bases are covered. That is why we see so many laws governing polygamy, not forbidding it.
Now the previous conversation with Avimelech makes more sense. Avimelech thought he was betrothing himself to an unmarried woman. (An innocent act - even though he was a married man). Yet, in reality, he was trying to marry a woman that was already the property of another man. YHWH takes marriage and adultery VERY seriously. So should we. Further, our definitions of marriage and adultery must line up with His person and His word!
06 May 2012
10 reasons to declare the truth of Torah Plural Marriage
By: Rabbi Samuel Thompson, BYSW, Australia
In a rural society, the relationship of men and women is abused in one way, and in modern society, it is abused in another way. It is being abused everywhere in the world, whichever form it adopts. In the rural society, polygamy is often abused. In this modern society, polygamy is forbidden, so I will address this side of the coin. Where there is abuse, there the truth will be declared. As a teacher of the Scriptures, this issue is not so much a personal belief or preference but a deeper truth to stand upon and be responsible for. The list is by no means exhaustive and it is impossible for any responsible man, after knowing it to keep quiet.
1. The truth has to be taught. Our fundamental values and understanding of the marriage institution are not according to the Word, and they have affected the way we live life and judge others. Simply, the truth has to be taught.
2. The innocent are wrongfully mocked and ostracized in our society. Modern society has wrongly despised, mocked and ostracized countless true polygamists (who might have done well and have been justified) before Yahuwah. They have been deprived of their rightful place in society. Their offspring are being discriminated as bastards and children of shame. Shouldn’t the truth be declared to defend the wrongly persecuted?
3. The innocent are wrongfully shamed at the pulpit and deprived of their place in the congregation. Many a polygamist has been deprived of community blessing. They are publicly shamed, preached against and wrongly imputed with the sin of adultery and fornication and condemned into hell fire by the modern Church. They have to cruelly give up the other wives and children before they can be "saved" or given membership in the church. What about this? How much do we care for the souls and their rightful place in Yahuwah’s Kingdom?
4. The Assembly is deceived. Historically, it is clear that the Roman-tic should-be monogamy is a theology that has its root, not from our patriarchal forefathers but from the heathen Roman and Babylonian religions. Emperor Nero killed the first wife to marry a second wife and banished the second to get a third, who influenced him to inflict unimaginable cruelty on the early Nazarenes. Do we not expose the works of the devil?
5. The credibility of our founding fathers is being questioned. The foundation of Yahuwah’s Kingdom is questioned and renounced, because by today’s "Christianity", our founding fathers like Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David are in effect considered as backward if not barbaric to have indulged in the "permissive sin" of polygamous adultery. If they were alive today, the "Church" would be erroneously ashamed of them before the world. They would be deprived of church membership, not mentioning their place as founding fathers, yet Yahuwah said in Deut 10:15 that He loves the fathers. Thus, we see the righteousness, holiness and the credibility of our founding fathers undermined. The heathen now set the standard of holiness for our forefathers, whose ignorant children (the church) are now judging them using the laws of the heathen. This must be rectified.
6. True ministers have been wrongfully destroyed. Nowhere in the Scriptures is it mentioned that ministers cannot be polygamous. In fact, there are implications that polygamous servants are acceptable. But in today’s "Christianity", many ministers have been floored, and forcefully thrown out of ministry by opportunists, while in truth, they not only should have been spared but justified, and lifted up as patriarchs. I am not justifying those who take another man’s wife, and those who commit adultery by scriptural definition. I am advocating for those would-be polygamous faithful ministers who have been grounded as fallen stars, robbed and destroyed by ambitious men who took occasion to rise. These have no excuse for not knowing the truth, for if they were led by the Spirit, they would not have destroyed the commanders of Yahuwah in this manner. The Kingdom is losing many mighty warriors because of untruth.
7. From bondage to freedom and fulfillment. Many, because of the anti-polygamy sentiment, stay in secrecy, fear, deprivation and loneliness instead of being set free into the liberty of the Word and fulfilment in their lives. Such, if not for the fear of what others might think or say, may on their own be willing to commit to a responsible polygamous life, but now shy away from doing what is responsible and rightful in their life. Do we not care for our fearful and deprived brothers and sisters? Someone will have to speak up for them.
8. It’s an instruction from Yahushua. Yahushua said, if you love Me, keep My commandments. He also said that when we have the light, we should not keep it under the bed, but place it on the hilltop for all to see. There are those who see this truth but for fear of men and of discrimination and persecution, keep quiet. Do we not obey Moshiach? How much do we love Him?
9. It teaches relationship with Yahuwah and depth in Moshiach. Yahushua said that the deep relationship of Moshiach and His Called-Out Ones of Yahuwah and worthy men, is like a marriage, like that of groom and bride. So, if the forms and principles of the marriage relationship are not properly understood in the right light, the relationship with Yahuwah will never be properly comprehended, and those whom we are ministering to will never be set free. Yahushua told Rabbi Nicodemus, "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" Yochannan/John 3:12. Thus, if one does not have the correct understanding of the natural marriage, he will never be free enough to understand the deeper things of Yahuwah, especially his relationship with Him, and he will never be able to bring others beyond where he is. We need to help others into the depths of Yahuwah if we truly love Him.
10. It’s an urgent answer for the world and Churchianity. Anti-patriarchy means anti-submission to Yahuwah and spiritual leadership. Anti-polygamy means anti-sharing and exclusiveness. Both are the real causes of broken marriages. Both are anti-Moshiach (anti-Christ) and need to be changed. The teaching of patriarchal polygamy will bring about the restoration of Yahuwah’s truth and the right disposition of hearts in Yahuwah’s Kingdom. The hypocritical holiness of should-be monogamy is not answering the world’s need and the frustrated world is turning to homosexuality and lesbianism and are quickly being legalized and infiltrating the Churchianity. The monogamy idol will soon have to be abandoned for the new "homogamy" god if patriarchal polygamy is not quickly put in its right place. If we don’t live in the truth, Churchianity will be plagued and destroyed by untruth and sins.
11. It’s the restoration work of the spirit of Elijah. Here is 1 more than 10. The Word of Yahuwah says that Elijah will come and turn the hearts of the children to the fathers whom Yahuwah said, He takes delight only in them (Deut 10:15). How about doing the Father’s work in the last days?
12. The Called-Out are losing their spiritual women to the world. Here is another 1 more than 11. Not only is it not wrong, but also in some cases scripturally right and noble for patriarchal men to look after more spiritual women, to take care of them so that they can continue to be committed to the Kingdom of Yahuwah, and not have to resort to marrying and subjecting themselves to unbelievers in order for this Yahuwah-given need to be met. Painfully, we see many spiritual women losing their call and contribution to the Kingdom and many times even their salvation because of marriage. This need not happen at all! How can we not take a hard look at this if we truly care for the Kingdom? And know that what is true will provide a solution to this problem. By this we will know that a truth is indeed TRUTH. Christianity is fighting a losing battle because of the lack of knowledge of the truth.
13. The truths regarding Biblical polygamy sets you free. One more than 12. The blindness and darkness over many areas of life are shrouded in the anti-polygamy sentiment and in the misconceptions of Biblical Polygamy. Thus, the truths regarding Biblical Polygamy become the key to unlock the door to many other truths and freedom of life. It is but the key to true liberty and dynamism.
I have listed at least 10 not just good, but important reasons for patriarchal polygamy to be preached and taught.
How can anybody understand these and still keep quiet? The truth will have to be restored, but not without a price! Who will stand for Yahuwah?
Polygamy: What does scripture say?
Polygamy: What does scripture say?
Although Scripture clearly condemns polyandry (a woman having more than one husband, Romans 7:2-3), it does not condemn polygyny (a man having more than one wife). Yet, in today's false "Christian" culture (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:1-3) this kind of polygamy (i.e. polygyny) is typically viewed as evil, even though the Word of Yahuwah never teaches any such thing (Mishle/Proverbs 4:27).
Popular "Bible teacher" John MacArthur exemplifies this presumption.
In his Study Bible MacArthur writes,
8:30,31 many wives. Gideon fell severely into the sin of polygamy, an iniquity tolerated by many but which never was YHWH's blueprint for marriage (Gen. 2:24). Abimelech, a son by yet another illicit relationship, grew up to be the wretched king in Judg. 9. Polygamy always resulted in trouble. (The MacArthur Study Bible, p.348, copyright 1997, Word Publishing)
MacArthur calls polygamy an "iniquity," faults Gideon for "the sin of polygamy," and calls polygamy and concubinage (Abimelech was the son of Gideon's concubine, Shoftim/Judges 8:31) "illicit" relationships. On page 37 of this same Study Bible MacArthur calls bigamy (having two wives) "open rebellion against Elohim" and a "violation of marriage law" (see MacArthur's footnote for B'reisheet/Genesis 4:19). The problem with this is, Scripture nowhere says any such thing (Mishle/Proverbs 30:5-6). When MacArthur maintains such heresy, he blasphemes (2 Timothy 3:2) Righteous men (e.g. Abraham, Caleb, Gideon, David, even Josiah, see MacArthur's footnote for 2 Kings 23:25), and teaches as doctrines the commandments of men (Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:8-9).
I. Polygamy Was Not Uncommon
As often as polygamy is recorded in Scripture, it is quite amazing how YHVH never condemns the practice. Both wicked men and righteous men were polygamous, and YHVH called neither to repent of it.
Lamech practiced polygamy (B'reisheet/Genesis 4:19). Avraham likewise had more than one wife (B'reisheet/Genesis 16:3-4; 25:6 "concubines"). Nahor, Avraham's brother, had both a wife and a concubine (Genesis 11:29; 22:20-24). Ya'akov was tricked into polygamy (Genesis 29:20-30), yet later he received two additional wives making a grand total of four wives (Genesis 30:4, 9). Esau took on a third wife hoping it might please his father Yitz'chak (Genesis 28:6-9). Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives (1 Chronicles 4:5). Michael, Obadiah, Joel, Ishiah, and those with them "had many wives" (1 Chronicles 7:3-4). Shaharaim had at least four wives, two of which he "sent away" (1 Chronicles 8:8-11). Caleb had two wives (1 Chronicles 2:18) and two concubines (1 Chronicles 2:46, 48). Gideon had many wives (Shoftim/Judges 8:30).
Elkanah is recorded as having two wives, one of which was Hannah filled with the Spirit of Yahuwah (1 Samuel 1:1-2, 8-2:10). Dawid, a man after YHWH's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), had at least 8 wives and 10 concubines (1 Chronicles 1:1-9; 2 Samuel 6:23; 20:3). Shlomo, who breached both Deuteronomy 7:1-4 and 17:14-17, had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:1-6). Rehoboam had eighteen wives and sixty concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21), and sought many wives for his sons (1 Chronicles 11:23). Abijah had fourteen wives (2 Chronicles 13:21). Ahab had more than one wife (1 Kings 20:7). Yehoram had wives who were taken captive (2 Chronicles 21:17). Yehoiada the kohen gave king Yoash two wives (2 Chronicles 24:1-3), and Yehoiachin had more than one wife (2 Kings 24:15). Polygamy is mentioned several times over in the Bible and never once is polygamy condemned.
II. Polygamy Was Governed
Not only is polygyny not forbidden, but Yahuwah actually gave laws concerning its practice. For example, in Devarim 21 YHWH gave Moshe a law regarding a man who had two wives.
Popular "Bible teacher" John MacArthur exemplifies this presumption.
In his Study Bible MacArthur writes,
8:30,31 many wives. Gideon fell severely into the sin of polygamy, an iniquity tolerated by many but which never was YHWH's blueprint for marriage (Gen. 2:24). Abimelech, a son by yet another illicit relationship, grew up to be the wretched king in Judg. 9. Polygamy always resulted in trouble. (The MacArthur Study Bible, p.348, copyright 1997, Word Publishing)
MacArthur calls polygamy an "iniquity," faults Gideon for "the sin of polygamy," and calls polygamy and concubinage (Abimelech was the son of Gideon's concubine, Shoftim/Judges 8:31) "illicit" relationships. On page 37 of this same Study Bible MacArthur calls bigamy (having two wives) "open rebellion against Elohim" and a "violation of marriage law" (see MacArthur's footnote for B'reisheet/Genesis 4:19). The problem with this is, Scripture nowhere says any such thing (Mishle/Proverbs 30:5-6). When MacArthur maintains such heresy, he blasphemes (2 Timothy 3:2) Righteous men (e.g. Abraham, Caleb, Gideon, David, even Josiah, see MacArthur's footnote for 2 Kings 23:25), and teaches as doctrines the commandments of men (Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:8-9).
I. Polygamy Was Not Uncommon
As often as polygamy is recorded in Scripture, it is quite amazing how YHVH never condemns the practice. Both wicked men and righteous men were polygamous, and YHVH called neither to repent of it.
Lamech practiced polygamy (B'reisheet/Genesis 4:19). Avraham likewise had more than one wife (B'reisheet/Genesis 16:3-4; 25:6 "concubines"). Nahor, Avraham's brother, had both a wife and a concubine (Genesis 11:29; 22:20-24). Ya'akov was tricked into polygamy (Genesis 29:20-30), yet later he received two additional wives making a grand total of four wives (Genesis 30:4, 9). Esau took on a third wife hoping it might please his father Yitz'chak (Genesis 28:6-9). Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives (1 Chronicles 4:5). Michael, Obadiah, Joel, Ishiah, and those with them "had many wives" (1 Chronicles 7:3-4). Shaharaim had at least four wives, two of which he "sent away" (1 Chronicles 8:8-11). Caleb had two wives (1 Chronicles 2:18) and two concubines (1 Chronicles 2:46, 48). Gideon had many wives (Shoftim/Judges 8:30).
Elkanah is recorded as having two wives, one of which was Hannah filled with the Spirit of Yahuwah (1 Samuel 1:1-2, 8-2:10). Dawid, a man after YHWH's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), had at least 8 wives and 10 concubines (1 Chronicles 1:1-9; 2 Samuel 6:23; 20:3). Shlomo, who breached both Deuteronomy 7:1-4 and 17:14-17, had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:1-6). Rehoboam had eighteen wives and sixty concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21), and sought many wives for his sons (1 Chronicles 11:23). Abijah had fourteen wives (2 Chronicles 13:21). Ahab had more than one wife (1 Kings 20:7). Yehoram had wives who were taken captive (2 Chronicles 21:17). Yehoiada the kohen gave king Yoash two wives (2 Chronicles 24:1-3), and Yehoiachin had more than one wife (2 Kings 24:15). Polygamy is mentioned several times over in the Bible and never once is polygamy condemned.
II. Polygamy Was Governed
Not only is polygyny not forbidden, but Yahuwah actually gave laws concerning its practice. For example, in Devarim 21 YHWH gave Moshe a law regarding a man who had two wives.
"If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his." (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
This law does not condemn the man who has two wives. It simply governs how he deals with the offspring.
Immediately before this passage, we find Devarim 21:10-14.
When you go out to war against your enemies, and YHWH your Elohim delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife, then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails. She shall put off the cloths of her captivity, remain in your house, and mourn her father and her mother a full month; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall set her free, but you certainly shall not sell her for money; you shall not treat her brutally, because you have humbled her.
Here YHWH makes no mention as to whether "you" are already married or not. He simply gives the Yisra'elites the permission to marry a captive girl and how to deal with her. This law applies to either a single man or a married man, and in its application of a married man, YHVH is giving permission for polygamy. In fact, this passage rests in that very context, because the very next statement after verse 14 is, "If a man has two wives, . . ." (Deuteronomy 21:15).
Another interesting law in the light of polygamy is found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Yisra'el.
But if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, "My husband's brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Yisra'el; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother." Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, "I do not want to take her," then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, "So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother's house." And his name shall be called in Yisra'el, "The house of him who had his sandal removed."
This passage requires the living brother to marry his brother's wife, and there is absolutely no statement whatsoever in regards to the living brother's marital status. He could be single, or he could already be married. The passage says nothing either way. All that is said is,
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
If the living brother was already married, then we have here a command from Yahuwah for a man to have a polygamous relationship. If the living brother was already married, in order to obey YHWH, the man would be required to have more than one wife. If he refused to do so, he would be spit in the face and bear reproach (Deuteronomy 25:9-10).
Similarly, if a married man were to have sex with a virgin who was not betrothed, he would be required to marry her, and thus end up with another wife.
If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins. (Exodus 22:16-17; see also Deuteronomy 22:28-29)
Here again there is no specification on whether the man is married or not. Therefore, this law would apply to both a single or married man.
Another law regarding polygamy can be found in VaYikra 18:18. Here YHVH forbids, not polygamy, but rather the taking on of a rival sister while the other is still alive.
Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
In other words, YHWH forbids a man to take his wife's sister as a wife for the purpose of rivalry.
YHWH also did not allow a man to marry a woman and her mother.
If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. (Leviticus 20:14)
These laws (Leviticus 18:18 & 20:14) do not prohibit polygamy, but rather they ban certain acts of polygamy. Just the same as we are commanded not to murder. However, under certain circumstances, a man's life may be taken (war, punishment, etc).
Finally, there is one passage in Devarim that some may think condemns polygamy, but, the truth of the matter is, it actually allows it. For the king, Devarim 17:14-17 places a very general limit to the practice of polygamy.
When you come to the land which YHWH your Elohim is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, "I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me," you shall surely set a king over you whom YHWH your Elohim chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitsrayim, to multiply horses, for YHWH has said to you, "You shall not return that way again." Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
This law is given for the king of the land. There is no such law concerning the common Yisra'elite. In other words, if a Yisra'elite were to multiply wives for himself, he would not be breaching this law or any other command from Elohim, because no such command exists. This law does not apply to everyone. It only applies to the king.
Now, does the law say the king cannot have more than one wife? No, it does not. In fact, please note there are three other things the king is not to "multiply for himself," horses, silver, and gold. Could he have a few horses? Certainly, David had at least 100 horses (2 Samuel 8:4), and in this, he did not disobey Yahuwah (1 Kings 15:5). Could a king have some silver and gold? Indeed, David had silver and gold (2 Samuel 12:30; 24:24), and he did not disobey YHWH (1 Kings 15:5). Likewise, could a king have a few wives? Yes he could. David had at least 8 wives and 10 concubines (2 Samuel 3:14; 15:16; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9), and was not disobedient against YHWH in doing so; as 1 Kings 15:5 says,
David did what was right in the eyes of YHWH, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
As for a king who breached Devarim 17:17, Shlomo is the classic example. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Yet, even though Shlomo obviously multiplied wives to himself, YHWH condemns Shlomo, in particular, for his marriage of foreign women (1 Kings 11:1-2; Deuteronomy 7:1-4) and the resultant idolatry (1 Kings 11:4). Yahuwah mentions Shlomo's multiple wives (1 Kings 11:3), but the focus of YHWH's anger is upon Shlomo allowing himself to be seduced by his wives (1 Kings 11:9-10). The focus is not upon how many wives he possessed, but rather upon the marriage of foreign women and how they seduced him into idolatry.
Interesting to note in this polygamous context is the statement about Dawid in 1 Kings 11:6.
Shlomo did evil in the sight of YHWH, and did not fully follow YHWH, as did his father Dawid.
Even though Dawid had at least 8 wives and ten concubines, Dawid fully followed YHWH.
Polygamy was the pattern of Dawid's life. He practiced it unrepentantly. Those who claim Dawid sinned by practicing polygamy (e.g. MacArthur and company) unwittingly proclaim Dawid was of the devil, because 1 John 3:8 says, "He who sins is of the devil." Yet, that is contrary to the word of YHWH himself!
III. Polygamy Included Concubinage
Some today may think that concubinage in the Scriptures was a form of an immoral sexual relationship similar to having a personal mistress. Webster's Third New International Dictionary gives this kind of a definition for "concubine" as one possible meaning.
concubine . . . b: a woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife: MISTRESS (p. 472, copyright 1986, unabridged)
The Hebrew word for concubine is (pilegesh), and it is used for an illicit sexual relationship, but only once.
For she lusted for her paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. (Ezekiel 23:20)
Here in Ezekiel 23:20, the Hebrew word for concubine is translated "paramours." A paramour is an illicit sexual lover indeed, and the context of this passage supports this translation. It is speaking of a woman with her male immoral partners (paramours). The "concubines," so to speak, are male here, not female.
With Ezekiel 23:20 excluded, every time pilegesh is used it speaks of a female concubine that is married to her male partner. Keturah is called Avraham's concubine in 1 Chronicles 1:32, but in Genesis 25:1 she is called Avraham's wife. Dawid's ten concubines are indeed called concubines, but they are also called his wives by YHWH Himself (2 Samuel 12:11; 16:21-22). In Shoftim/Judges 19 & 20 the Levite's concubine "played the harlot" (Judges 19:2) and left "her husband" (Judges 19:3).
She is called a concubine in Judges 19:1, 2, 9, 24, 25, 29; 20:4 and 5, yet at the same time, her male partner, the Levite, is called "her husband" in Judges 19:3 and 20:4. Moreover, the concubine's father is called the "father-in-law" (Judges 19:4, 7, 9), and the Levite is called the "son-in-law" (Judges 19:5). Clearly, concubinage is displayed as a marital commitment.
So, what is the difference between a "wife" and a "concubine"? Wives are free, concubines are not. Scripture portrays concubinage as the marriage of a slave girl. Note VaYikra 19:20.
Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Betrothal depicts marriage (Devarim 28:30), and here in VaYikra 19:20 we have the marriage (betrothal) of a slave girl to a man. Being a slave, she is called a concubine, and for this immoral act she is not killed as a free woman would be (Devarim 22:23-24), "because she was not free."
In Shoftim, the concubine's husband is twice called "her master" (Shoftim 19:26, 27). Other concubines are identified likewise. Bilhah, Ya'akov's concubine (B'reisheet 35:22), whom Rachel gave to him for a wife (B'reisheet 30:3-4), was a slave (B'reisheet 35:25 "maidservant"). Likewise, Zilpah was a slave-wife (B'reisheet 35:26; 30:9). Marrying a slave girl was not only practiced; it was legislated in the law of Elohim as well.
And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money. (Shemot 21:7-11; see also Devarim 21:10-14)
Notice it does not say, "He cannot take another wife." It says, "If he takes another wife." Here we have another law concerning polygamy and it is not forbidden.
Although some today may view concubinage as an evil deed, Leah, in the Scriptures, viewed it as part of that which pleased YHWH.
And YHWH listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Ya'akov a fifth son. Leah said, "YHWH has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband." So she called his name Issachar. (B'reisheet 30:17-18)
Leah had given Zilpah, her slave, to Ya'akov as a wife because she perceived that she had stopped bearing children (B'reisheet 30:9). Yet, she continued to pray for more sons. Yahuwah heard her plea ("YHWH listened to Leah"), and Leah understood this to be a reward from YHWH for giving Ya'akov a concubine.
IV. Polygamy Today
In the beginning YHWH indeed formed one man and one woman and the two became one flesh (B'reisheet 2:24; B'reisheet 1:31; Mark 10:6-8). Whether it be in a monogamous marriage or a polygamous marriage, the two still become one flesh. However, polygamy is NOT illegal in the U.S! What is illegal is Bigamy. (Having "state-reconignized" civil unions with more than one person at a time) Besides, in cases where polygamy is COMMANDED, do we obey the state or YHVH? (For more on this, please see the posts "To Whom are you married" and "Marriage Covenants")
The man becomes one flesh with each of his wives. We know this by the fact that even if a man has sex with a harlot, he nonetheless becomes one flesh with her (1 Corinthians 6:16). Therefore, the two becoming one still applies to each union in a polygamous marriage.
Mishle/Proverbs 18:22 says, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from YHWH." It's a good thing to find a wife, and who's to say it's an evil thing to find more than one? Elohim doesn't say any such thing, and neither should we!
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Yisra'el.
But if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, "My husband's brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Yisra'el; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother." Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, "I do not want to take her," then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, "So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother's house." And his name shall be called in Yisra'el, "The house of him who had his sandal removed."
This passage requires the living brother to marry his brother's wife, and there is absolutely no statement whatsoever in regards to the living brother's marital status. He could be single, or he could already be married. The passage says nothing either way. All that is said is,
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
If the living brother was already married, then we have here a command from Yahuwah for a man to have a polygamous relationship. If the living brother was already married, in order to obey YHWH, the man would be required to have more than one wife. If he refused to do so, he would be spit in the face and bear reproach (Deuteronomy 25:9-10).
Similarly, if a married man were to have sex with a virgin who was not betrothed, he would be required to marry her, and thus end up with another wife.
If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins. (Exodus 22:16-17; see also Deuteronomy 22:28-29)
Here again there is no specification on whether the man is married or not. Therefore, this law would apply to both a single or married man.
Another law regarding polygamy can be found in VaYikra 18:18. Here YHVH forbids, not polygamy, but rather the taking on of a rival sister while the other is still alive.
Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
In other words, YHWH forbids a man to take his wife's sister as a wife for the purpose of rivalry.
YHWH also did not allow a man to marry a woman and her mother.
If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. (Leviticus 20:14)
These laws (Leviticus 18:18 & 20:14) do not prohibit polygamy, but rather they ban certain acts of polygamy. Just the same as we are commanded not to murder. However, under certain circumstances, a man's life may be taken (war, punishment, etc).
Finally, there is one passage in Devarim that some may think condemns polygamy, but, the truth of the matter is, it actually allows it. For the king, Devarim 17:14-17 places a very general limit to the practice of polygamy.
When you come to the land which YHWH your Elohim is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, "I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me," you shall surely set a king over you whom YHWH your Elohim chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitsrayim, to multiply horses, for YHWH has said to you, "You shall not return that way again." Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
This law is given for the king of the land. There is no such law concerning the common Yisra'elite. In other words, if a Yisra'elite were to multiply wives for himself, he would not be breaching this law or any other command from Elohim, because no such command exists. This law does not apply to everyone. It only applies to the king.
Now, does the law say the king cannot have more than one wife? No, it does not. In fact, please note there are three other things the king is not to "multiply for himself," horses, silver, and gold. Could he have a few horses? Certainly, David had at least 100 horses (2 Samuel 8:4), and in this, he did not disobey Yahuwah (1 Kings 15:5). Could a king have some silver and gold? Indeed, David had silver and gold (2 Samuel 12:30; 24:24), and he did not disobey YHWH (1 Kings 15:5). Likewise, could a king have a few wives? Yes he could. David had at least 8 wives and 10 concubines (2 Samuel 3:14; 15:16; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9), and was not disobedient against YHWH in doing so; as 1 Kings 15:5 says,
David did what was right in the eyes of YHWH, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
As for a king who breached Devarim 17:17, Shlomo is the classic example. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Yet, even though Shlomo obviously multiplied wives to himself, YHWH condemns Shlomo, in particular, for his marriage of foreign women (1 Kings 11:1-2; Deuteronomy 7:1-4) and the resultant idolatry (1 Kings 11:4). Yahuwah mentions Shlomo's multiple wives (1 Kings 11:3), but the focus of YHWH's anger is upon Shlomo allowing himself to be seduced by his wives (1 Kings 11:9-10). The focus is not upon how many wives he possessed, but rather upon the marriage of foreign women and how they seduced him into idolatry.
Interesting to note in this polygamous context is the statement about Dawid in 1 Kings 11:6.
Shlomo did evil in the sight of YHWH, and did not fully follow YHWH, as did his father Dawid.
Even though Dawid had at least 8 wives and ten concubines, Dawid fully followed YHWH.
Polygamy was the pattern of Dawid's life. He practiced it unrepentantly. Those who claim Dawid sinned by practicing polygamy (e.g. MacArthur and company) unwittingly proclaim Dawid was of the devil, because 1 John 3:8 says, "He who sins is of the devil." Yet, that is contrary to the word of YHWH himself!
III. Polygamy Included Concubinage
Some today may think that concubinage in the Scriptures was a form of an immoral sexual relationship similar to having a personal mistress. Webster's Third New International Dictionary gives this kind of a definition for "concubine" as one possible meaning.
concubine . . . b: a woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife: MISTRESS (p. 472, copyright 1986, unabridged)
The Hebrew word for concubine is (pilegesh), and it is used for an illicit sexual relationship, but only once.
For she lusted for her paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. (Ezekiel 23:20)
Here in Ezekiel 23:20, the Hebrew word for concubine is translated "paramours." A paramour is an illicit sexual lover indeed, and the context of this passage supports this translation. It is speaking of a woman with her male immoral partners (paramours). The "concubines," so to speak, are male here, not female.
With Ezekiel 23:20 excluded, every time pilegesh is used it speaks of a female concubine that is married to her male partner. Keturah is called Avraham's concubine in 1 Chronicles 1:32, but in Genesis 25:1 she is called Avraham's wife. Dawid's ten concubines are indeed called concubines, but they are also called his wives by YHWH Himself (2 Samuel 12:11; 16:21-22). In Shoftim/Judges 19 & 20 the Levite's concubine "played the harlot" (Judges 19:2) and left "her husband" (Judges 19:3).
She is called a concubine in Judges 19:1, 2, 9, 24, 25, 29; 20:4 and 5, yet at the same time, her male partner, the Levite, is called "her husband" in Judges 19:3 and 20:4. Moreover, the concubine's father is called the "father-in-law" (Judges 19:4, 7, 9), and the Levite is called the "son-in-law" (Judges 19:5). Clearly, concubinage is displayed as a marital commitment.
So, what is the difference between a "wife" and a "concubine"? Wives are free, concubines are not. Scripture portrays concubinage as the marriage of a slave girl. Note VaYikra 19:20.
Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Betrothal depicts marriage (Devarim 28:30), and here in VaYikra 19:20 we have the marriage (betrothal) of a slave girl to a man. Being a slave, she is called a concubine, and for this immoral act she is not killed as a free woman would be (Devarim 22:23-24), "because she was not free."
In Shoftim, the concubine's husband is twice called "her master" (Shoftim 19:26, 27). Other concubines are identified likewise. Bilhah, Ya'akov's concubine (B'reisheet 35:22), whom Rachel gave to him for a wife (B'reisheet 30:3-4), was a slave (B'reisheet 35:25 "maidservant"). Likewise, Zilpah was a slave-wife (B'reisheet 35:26; 30:9). Marrying a slave girl was not only practiced; it was legislated in the law of Elohim as well.
And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money. (Shemot 21:7-11; see also Devarim 21:10-14)
Notice it does not say, "He cannot take another wife." It says, "If he takes another wife." Here we have another law concerning polygamy and it is not forbidden.
Although some today may view concubinage as an evil deed, Leah, in the Scriptures, viewed it as part of that which pleased YHWH.
And YHWH listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Ya'akov a fifth son. Leah said, "YHWH has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband." So she called his name Issachar. (B'reisheet 30:17-18)
Leah had given Zilpah, her slave, to Ya'akov as a wife because she perceived that she had stopped bearing children (B'reisheet 30:9). Yet, she continued to pray for more sons. Yahuwah heard her plea ("YHWH listened to Leah"), and Leah understood this to be a reward from YHWH for giving Ya'akov a concubine.
IV. Polygamy Today
In the beginning YHWH indeed formed one man and one woman and the two became one flesh (B'reisheet 2:24; B'reisheet 1:31; Mark 10:6-8). Whether it be in a monogamous marriage or a polygamous marriage, the two still become one flesh. However, polygamy is NOT illegal in the U.S! What is illegal is Bigamy. (Having "state-reconignized" civil unions with more than one person at a time) Besides, in cases where polygamy is COMMANDED, do we obey the state or YHVH? (For more on this, please see the posts "To Whom are you married" and "Marriage Covenants")
The man becomes one flesh with each of his wives. We know this by the fact that even if a man has sex with a harlot, he nonetheless becomes one flesh with her (1 Corinthians 6:16). Therefore, the two becoming one still applies to each union in a polygamous marriage.
Mishle/Proverbs 18:22 says, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from YHWH." It's a good thing to find a wife, and who's to say it's an evil thing to find more than one? Elohim doesn't say any such thing, and neither should we!
Polygamist Spotlight #3 - Avraham
One of the most famous, and least understood polygamist in scripture is Avraham. This man was the first Hebrew (crossed over). According to history and legend he left his pagan father's house and set out to find and worship the One True El. Consider the following excerpt from Tom Shipley's "Man and Woman in Biblical Law"
B'reisheet 16:1-4:
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, a Mitsrite, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, יהוה hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. 3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Mitsrite, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she
conceived...
Of all the examples of polygamy in Scripture, Avraham’s is one of the most relevant to the question of the lawfulness thereof. John Knox, the great Reformer, once argued that the Biblical incidents or examples of polygamy cannot inform us of the issue of law:
“The men that object the same are not altogether ignorant that examples have no strength when the question is of law. As if I should ask, what marriage is lawful? And it should be answered that lawful it is to a man, not only to have many wives at once, but it is also lawful to marry two sisters and to enjoy them both living at once, because that David, Jacob, and Solomon, servants of God, did the same. I trust that no man would justify the vanity of this reason...for examples may establish no law (emph. supp.-T.S.), but we are bound to the law written and to the commandment expressed in the same.” —John Knox, “The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women,” pg. 63-64
I have no qualm with Knox’s logic here. It is sound. An example of conduct certainly does not justify the conduct or establish any kind of norm. I trust that the reader will perceive that such is not the argument being advocated here. It is to be wished that the monogamy-only proponents would be rationally consistent in advocating this point when it comes to the example of Adam’s supposed monogamy, and confess that “examples may establish no law.”
Knox’s comments, however, treat the subject of polygamy as if it exists in isolation, apart from other textual factors which contribute to an understanding of polygamy’s legal status. For example, if all we know about the man is that he was a polygamist, then this tells us nothing about the legal status of polygamy. But if we add to the fact of polygamy the additional fact that the man was declared by יהוה Himself to be a righteous and obedient man of יהוה , then this certainly is relevant to the question of the lawfulness of polygamy. For if polygamy is disobedience against יהוה , then the man who is a polygamist cannot be declared obedient.
If polygamy is nothing but the heinous sin of adultery, then a man’s polygamy must reflect negatively upon the moral evaluation of the polygamist. But if we know that the polygamist was righteous, then a strong presumption, if not certainty, is created in favor of the proposition that polygamy is lawful. Adultery is not a peccadillo in יהוה ’s eyes. It is a “great” and heinous sin. It is a form of wickedness for which the Scripture commands the death penalty. Adultery, especially continual unrepented of adultery, cannot be simply overlooked or ignored.
John Knox’s valid logical observation that an example of conduct cannot settle a question of law is just too simplistic to answer the question of the relevance of David’s, Jacob’s, and Solomon’s polygamy. David, Jacob, and Solomon (despite later failures) were all righteous men. They were also polygamists. Moreover, when David committed murder and adultery, he was severely rebuked and punished for both of these sins. Yet nowhere was he (or anyone else) ever condemned for polygamy. How is this to be explained except by the proposition that polygamy is lawful? If it be objected that, “If the polygamy of a righteous man implies the lawfulness of polygamy, then why can’t we turn the logic right around and conclude that the polygamy of an unrighteous man implies the unlawfulness of polygamy?” We have already touched upon this question in regard to Lamech. Many aspects of the lives of the righteous and unrighteous are the same. The fact that many of the unrighteous do many of the lawful things that the righteous do does not make them righteous. The unrighteous are so by virtue of the fact that there remain other sins unrepented of. If, then, polygamy constitutes adultery, or is otherwise unlawful, then he who practices polygamy and does not repent must be counted among the unrighteous. If a polygamist is otherwise unrighteous (i.e., Lamech), this tells us nothing of the status of polygamy. But if we know both that a man is righteous and also a polygamist, then we may rationally conclude that polygamy is lawful. There is another exegetical factor in regard to Avraham and Ya'akov which makes the lawfulness of polygamy virtually certain even without any other supporting evidence.
Consider B'reisheet 18:17-19:
17 And יהוה said, Shall I hide from Avraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Avraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of יהוה .
And one more relevant statement regarding Abraham:
Because that Avraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. —B'reisheet 26:5
יהוה’s statement to Ya'akov in B'reisheet 26:5 plainly shows that His revelation to Avraham of His laws was very extensive. Unquestionably, the proper regulation of marriage is included in this statement (e.g. Genesis 20). We are explicitly told directly from the mouth of יהוה Himself that both Avraham and his household would “keep the way of יהוה ,” and then after the fact, that Avraham had in fact done so. Now “keeping” the way of יהוה obviously excludes the notion that Avraham violated the way of יהוה , yet if we are to believe the traditional line about polygamy, then Avraham was an egregious unrepentant violator of יהוה ’s Law. And, indeed, if polygamy constitutes adultery, or is otherwise unlawful, then that conclusion is inescapable. One cannot commit a “great” sin and live in it for many years without repentance, and still be said to be obedient or righteous. The conclusion to be drawn from these considerations is inevitable: if Avraham and Ya'akov kept the way of יהוה and were also polygamists, then it follows by logical necessity that polygamy must be lawful.
Shipley does a beautiful job here of illustrating the lawfulness of polygamy through the example of Avraham. However, I think that two very important points are left out.
1) As I have pointed out several times in past posts, Avraham, who had at least three wives, is used as an example of righteousness by our Master, Yahushua.
Mattithyahu 8:11 And I say to you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Avraham, and Yitzchak, and Yaakov, in the malchut ha shamayim.
The very company of these men (at least two of the three were polygamists) is promised by our Master as a reward for the faithful. If these men were perverted adulterers, would Yahushua have made such a promise?
Rav Sha'ul, who warned many times about adultery and sexual perversion included our father, Avraham in his list of the faithful in Ivrim 11.
8 By emunah Avraham, when he was called to go out into
a place that he would later receive as an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he
was going.
9 By emunah he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country, dwelling in tents with Yitzchak and
Yaakov, the heirs with him of the same promise: 1
10 For he looked for a city that has foundations, whose
Builder and Maker is יהוה .
Avraham is sited as a man who obeyed on faith!
So we have the testimonies of יהוה, Moshe, Yahushua and Sha'ul that Avraham was a righteous, obedient man of faith. How dare anyone claim that polygamists are perverts who only want to satisfy the lusts of the flesh! Shame on you! These men were MARRIED according to יהוה . They were righteous according to יהוה. If your definitions of marriage and perversion don't align with יהוה 's, then YOU need to repent and fall in line with Him - not the other way around!
2) While not technically a polygamist, I think much can be said about Sarah in the life of Avraham. Sarah was also listed by Sha'ul in the roll call of great faith. She gave her husband her maid to be his wife in order for him to be able to produce children while in her barren condition. She obeyed her husband and called him "Adon" (Master). She is sighted as the role model for wives everywhere. So much can be said about Sarah that I want to devote an entire article about her at a later time. For now, let us all pray that women everywhere will follow her example and become obedient wives submitted to the authority of their patriarchal heads.
B'reisheet 16:1-4:
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, a Mitsrite, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, יהוה hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. 3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Mitsrite, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she
conceived...
Of all the examples of polygamy in Scripture, Avraham’s is one of the most relevant to the question of the lawfulness thereof. John Knox, the great Reformer, once argued that the Biblical incidents or examples of polygamy cannot inform us of the issue of law:
“The men that object the same are not altogether ignorant that examples have no strength when the question is of law. As if I should ask, what marriage is lawful? And it should be answered that lawful it is to a man, not only to have many wives at once, but it is also lawful to marry two sisters and to enjoy them both living at once, because that David, Jacob, and Solomon, servants of God, did the same. I trust that no man would justify the vanity of this reason...for examples may establish no law (emph. supp.-T.S.), but we are bound to the law written and to the commandment expressed in the same.” —John Knox, “The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women,” pg. 63-64
I have no qualm with Knox’s logic here. It is sound. An example of conduct certainly does not justify the conduct or establish any kind of norm. I trust that the reader will perceive that such is not the argument being advocated here. It is to be wished that the monogamy-only proponents would be rationally consistent in advocating this point when it comes to the example of Adam’s supposed monogamy, and confess that “examples may establish no law.”
Knox’s comments, however, treat the subject of polygamy as if it exists in isolation, apart from other textual factors which contribute to an understanding of polygamy’s legal status. For example, if all we know about the man is that he was a polygamist, then this tells us nothing about the legal status of polygamy. But if we add to the fact of polygamy the additional fact that the man was declared by יהוה Himself to be a righteous and obedient man of יהוה , then this certainly is relevant to the question of the lawfulness of polygamy. For if polygamy is disobedience against יהוה , then the man who is a polygamist cannot be declared obedient.
If polygamy is nothing but the heinous sin of adultery, then a man’s polygamy must reflect negatively upon the moral evaluation of the polygamist. But if we know that the polygamist was righteous, then a strong presumption, if not certainty, is created in favor of the proposition that polygamy is lawful. Adultery is not a peccadillo in יהוה ’s eyes. It is a “great” and heinous sin. It is a form of wickedness for which the Scripture commands the death penalty. Adultery, especially continual unrepented of adultery, cannot be simply overlooked or ignored.
John Knox’s valid logical observation that an example of conduct cannot settle a question of law is just too simplistic to answer the question of the relevance of David’s, Jacob’s, and Solomon’s polygamy. David, Jacob, and Solomon (despite later failures) were all righteous men. They were also polygamists. Moreover, when David committed murder and adultery, he was severely rebuked and punished for both of these sins. Yet nowhere was he (or anyone else) ever condemned for polygamy. How is this to be explained except by the proposition that polygamy is lawful? If it be objected that, “If the polygamy of a righteous man implies the lawfulness of polygamy, then why can’t we turn the logic right around and conclude that the polygamy of an unrighteous man implies the unlawfulness of polygamy?” We have already touched upon this question in regard to Lamech. Many aspects of the lives of the righteous and unrighteous are the same. The fact that many of the unrighteous do many of the lawful things that the righteous do does not make them righteous. The unrighteous are so by virtue of the fact that there remain other sins unrepented of. If, then, polygamy constitutes adultery, or is otherwise unlawful, then he who practices polygamy and does not repent must be counted among the unrighteous. If a polygamist is otherwise unrighteous (i.e., Lamech), this tells us nothing of the status of polygamy. But if we know both that a man is righteous and also a polygamist, then we may rationally conclude that polygamy is lawful. There is another exegetical factor in regard to Avraham and Ya'akov which makes the lawfulness of polygamy virtually certain even without any other supporting evidence.
Consider B'reisheet 18:17-19:
17 And יהוה said, Shall I hide from Avraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Avraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of יהוה .
And one more relevant statement regarding Abraham:
Because that Avraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. —B'reisheet 26:5
יהוה’s statement to Ya'akov in B'reisheet 26:5 plainly shows that His revelation to Avraham of His laws was very extensive. Unquestionably, the proper regulation of marriage is included in this statement (e.g. Genesis 20). We are explicitly told directly from the mouth of יהוה Himself that both Avraham and his household would “keep the way of יהוה ,” and then after the fact, that Avraham had in fact done so. Now “keeping” the way of יהוה obviously excludes the notion that Avraham violated the way of יהוה , yet if we are to believe the traditional line about polygamy, then Avraham was an egregious unrepentant violator of יהוה ’s Law. And, indeed, if polygamy constitutes adultery, or is otherwise unlawful, then that conclusion is inescapable. One cannot commit a “great” sin and live in it for many years without repentance, and still be said to be obedient or righteous. The conclusion to be drawn from these considerations is inevitable: if Avraham and Ya'akov kept the way of יהוה and were also polygamists, then it follows by logical necessity that polygamy must be lawful.
Shipley does a beautiful job here of illustrating the lawfulness of polygamy through the example of Avraham. However, I think that two very important points are left out.
1) As I have pointed out several times in past posts, Avraham, who had at least three wives, is used as an example of righteousness by our Master, Yahushua.
Mattithyahu 8:11 And I say to you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Avraham, and Yitzchak, and Yaakov, in the malchut ha shamayim.
The very company of these men (at least two of the three were polygamists) is promised by our Master as a reward for the faithful. If these men were perverted adulterers, would Yahushua have made such a promise?
Rav Sha'ul, who warned many times about adultery and sexual perversion included our father, Avraham in his list of the faithful in Ivrim 11.
8 By emunah Avraham, when he was called to go out into
a place that he would later receive as an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he
was going.
9 By emunah he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country, dwelling in tents with Yitzchak and
Yaakov, the heirs with him of the same promise: 1
10 For he looked for a city that has foundations, whose
Builder and Maker is יהוה .
Avraham is sited as a man who obeyed on faith!
So we have the testimonies of יהוה, Moshe, Yahushua and Sha'ul that Avraham was a righteous, obedient man of faith. How dare anyone claim that polygamists are perverts who only want to satisfy the lusts of the flesh! Shame on you! These men were MARRIED according to יהוה . They were righteous according to יהוה. If your definitions of marriage and perversion don't align with יהוה 's, then YOU need to repent and fall in line with Him - not the other way around!
2) While not technically a polygamist, I think much can be said about Sarah in the life of Avraham. Sarah was also listed by Sha'ul in the roll call of great faith. She gave her husband her maid to be his wife in order for him to be able to produce children while in her barren condition. She obeyed her husband and called him "Adon" (Master). She is sighted as the role model for wives everywhere. So much can be said about Sarah that I want to devote an entire article about her at a later time. For now, let us all pray that women everywhere will follow her example and become obedient wives submitted to the authority of their patriarchal heads.
29 April 2012
To whom are you married?
This is a MUST SEE video explaining why we should NEVER enter into a "legal" marriage if we are followers of Torah!
12 April 2012
Marriage Covenants
This is certainly one of the best presentations I have ever found which answers the question "What is marriage?"
Extremely well researched and put together.
Extremely well researched and put together.
09 April 2012
07 April 2012
Untwisting the Twisting of Proverbs 31
Untwisting the Twisting of Proverbs 31
By The Ramyk
Rabbi Apostle Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky
Moon 9 Day 3 5971 SC (roughly)
Roman date November 27 2011
Many who have not yet had the revelation of the restoration of biblical marriage at the end of this
age, continue to misuse Proverbs 31, even as they do with Matthew 19. In Matthew 19, as we have
clearly shown elsewhere, Yahushua does not discuss monogamy over polygyny, or even that
monogamy was the original design. (We have shown elsewhere that a very strong case can be made from the
Book of Genesis that Adam had 2 wives. Therefore patriarchy, woman made for man and neither monogamy nor
polygyny was the original pattern.) Please see:
Adam the Polygamist
Did Adam Really Have Two Wives?
The Rebirth of Yisraelite Marriage pages 8-15:
In Matthew 19 the Moshiach warns the leaders against divorce on demand. He teaches that any man
that marries an undivorced woman commits fornication, causing the woman to commit adultery. Or
anyone that divorces their spouse for any reason other than unfaithfulness commits adultery.
Please see: The Rebirth of Yisraelite Marriage pages 7-8,289-292.
Since polygyny is blessed and many were in YHWH’s perfect will in its practice, Yahushua cannot
allegedly come along in Matthew 19 and simply curse or disallow what Torah calls a blessing when
properly regulated and done correctly. If that is what Yahushua allegedly did and taught, then He
could not qualify as the Messiah; for the Messiah would come to AFFIRM YHWH’S ways and not
override them in a new dispensation.
Yahushua said this in Matthew 5:17-18:
17 Think not that I am come to weaken, or destroy the Torah, or the neviim: I have not come to
weaken, or destroy, but to completely reveal it in its intended fullness.
18 For truly I say to you, Until the current shamayim and earth pass away, not one yud, or one
nekudah shall by any means pass from the Torah, until all be fulfilled.
Let’s now seek to untwist the traditional messy religious teachings of Mishle-Proverbs 31.
Chapter 31:
1The words of melech Lemu-El, a message that his eema taught him.
2 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows?
Marital vows that birthed her son and here is the patriarchal message!
3 Give not your strength to women, nor your halachot to that which destroys melechim.
The warning is that when a man takes more than one covenant wife that the patriarch does not turn
over lordship (strength) or his priesthood to these women. The very fact that she warns him about
women and not a single woman, shows that this is acceptable in Hebraic culture, which predates
Islam, Mormonism or any other kind of religious perversion.
4 It is not for melechim, O Lemu-El, it is not for melechim to drink wine; nor for rulers to drink strong
drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the Torah, and pervert the mishpat of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are of heavy levavot.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves and are appointed to destruction.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
This is why I have spoken publicly and prophetically at this point in time. So that my mouth may
speak forth and declare the ways of the Master Yahushua. And for those who cannot speak for
themselves and for those who are called to live a polygynous lifestyle, yet do not have the platform
that Yah has granted me. I would rather make enemies because I teach the truth in love, than to
allow the guiltless and the righteous that practice plural marriage continue to be castigated and
lumped in with the perverts of society. The media piles on an occasional abuse in the lifestyle, but
never highlights or accentuates the positive examples. They use unjust weights and measures against
plural marriage, without ever sighting the grandiose abuses in monogamy, and the overwhelming
fact that 99% of domestic, child and spousal abuses, with their subsequent restraining orders, are
perpetrated by monogamists, in a society bent on mandating monogamy. That is why we must speak
up and we must be heard!
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? 1 For her price is far above rubies.
Nowhere does this question limit the amount or number of covenant virtuous women. That has for
too long been read into the verse.
11 The lev of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him tov and not evil all the days of her chayim.
She will serve his vision and his calling not her own.
13 She seeks wool, and linen, and works willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from far.
1 In this verse starts the eshet chayil, or “virtuous woman” chapter.
15 She rises also while it is still night, and provides food to her household, and a portion to her young
women.
Every patriarch needs a matriarch. The matriarch is the first wife who in my view should be the most
emotionally and spiritual mature one. She is to lovingly guide and teach the younger and the less
experienced in marriage. She prepares food or breakfast in this case before the day starts at sunrise,
for both her patriarchal husband as well as HER YOUNG WOMEN. In a biblical Hebraic family, the
younger women become her responsibility, as she mentors and provides for them, along with her
husband, their portions because she is the most virtuous. Now just because she is the matriarch and
called to be the esht chayil-virtous wife, that does not mean that there are not other virtuous
women-wives in the home being raised up and cared for by the first virtuous woman. Just the
opposite is true here, as we see other women sharing her home and assisting her in her business
ventures.
16 She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is tov: her lamp goes not out at night.
19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the linen.
She is a business lady within the confines of the home bringing business into the home. Her arms are
a metaphor for the other young women living and assisting in the home.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all of her household is clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself quilts; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the zechanim of the land.
Her submission along with his other wives brings him honor in the community.
24 She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall gilah in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with chochmah; and on her tongue is the Torah of chesed.
27 She looks well to the halachot of her household, and eats not the lechem of idleness.
The virtuous woman is a Torah keeper guarding both her husband and the young wives entrusted to
her care. She contributes both Torah knowledge and kindness and mercy to both her husband and
sister wives.
28 Her children in Yisrael rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but you have risen over them all.
A careful look at verse 29 again brings home the principle of Hebraic marriage. Who are these many
daughters? They are the daughters of Israel in the same home, under patriarchy, that are also called
virtuous. In context, these are NOT biological daughters, as children who are pre- puberty cannot be
mature enough emotionally or spiritually to be called virtuous. If we remain consistent in our
interpretation of Scripture and if the virtuous adjective applies to the first MORE VIRTOUS wife,
then the exact same description MUST apply to the other younger less virtuous wives! The first by
virtue of her matriarchal blessing and responsibility, is among the virtuous daughters’ of Zion, but
has risen above them all! Her husband praises her for her great love, character and selfless Hebraic
lifestyle as do her children.
30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears YHWH, she shall be given tehilla.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own mitzvoth praise her in the gates.
It is not about who is the most beautiful, or the youngest, but who is the most virtuous. The most
virtuous who is able to rise above them all, she is the one that shall be praised; for she has risen
highest and with dignity and honor in her most noble calling.
With this correct and consistent view of Scripture, we can thank YHWH even more for His ways,
which remain eternally higher than our own ways and where the Yisraelite home is being restored
as the training center for virtuous Israelite men and women. The Israelite home must reflect
Yahushua’s home, where He deals with many wives, as seen in Matthew 25, some wise and
virtuous, some foolish. The Proverbs 31 model fits that of Yahushua and His patriarchal order, as
metaphorically taught and seen in Matthew chapter 25. Selah!
Was Monogamy the Original Perfect Pattern?
Was Monogamy the Original Perfect Pattern?
The Hebrew Holds the Key
By The RAMYK
Moon 8 Day 22 5992 SC
Ahdahm’s bones and flesh while the Hebrew text in Genesis 1:27 says the following:
VAYE-VRAH ELOHIM ET HA-AHDAHM BETZALMO-BETZELEM ELOHIM BARA
OTO ZACHAR VENEKEYVAH BARA OTAM.
Gen 1:27 So Elohim created ha’Ahdahm in His own image, in the image of
Elohim He created him; male and female He created them. The AHDAHM
produced a male and female.
So if he created them both then both were created from the earth while if you
remember Chava was not created from the earth but created from Adam. My point is
made that the first two humans were made from the earth which indicates there were
two women in the garden and not one as most have believed so what happened to
the original woman created from the earth along with the Ahdahm?
The idea that Adam had a wife prior to Eve is developed from an interpretation of the
Book of Genesis and its dual creation accounts; while Genesis 2:21-25 describes
Yahuwah's creation of Eve from Adam's rib, an earlier passage, 1:27, already indicates
that a woman had been made: "So Yahuwah created man in his own image, in the
image of Yahuwah created he him; male and female created he them." The chronology
of the text places Eve's creation after Yahuwah's words in Genesis 2:18 that "it is not
good for man to be alone" BECAUSE LILETH HAD ALREADY GONE HER OWN WAY BY
REFUSING TO BE WITH ADAM, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD NOT YET LEFT THE GARDEN!
Back in Genesis 1:27 Yahuwah forms Lilith out of the clay from which he made Adam
but she and Adam bicker. Lilith claims that since she and Adam were created in the
same way they were equal and she refuses to submit to him:
ATTACK ON PATRIACRHY RIGHT OFF THE BAT!
The first matriarchal spirit-rebellion uprising. We see how polygyny saved Ahdahm along with procreating the entire human race. So we see clearly into the spirit world and why s.a.tan so hates plural
marriage and has marked it for oblivion. It was through plural marriage provision that
the human race was procreated and by which we have ALL come into being!! It is that
image of YHWH upon us that s.a.tan so wants to destroy (John 10:10)! It is through
Eve Adam’s second wife and Lilith’s sister wife that Yahushua is born. Then again In
Matthew 1:1 Yahshua is born through Abraham and David’s lineage, both polygynists;
obviously s.a.tan has deceived billions through the years to hate this institution, so he
can dirty the handiwork and means by which Yahuwah entered the human race.
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created man, in the
likeness of Elohim made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them,
and called their name Adam, in the [same] day when they were created. 3 And Adam...begat a
son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. —Genesis 5:1-3
(If Adam had 2 wives how many did his image-Seth have? Two!)
We see another confirmation that wife # 1 was made from EARTH not later but
the same day Adam came from earth! Second witness! Eve was NOT created the
same time but later! Wife # 1 was created on day 6. Genesis 1:31. Then Elohim
rested on the Shabbat 7th day Genesis 2:1-3. So what day was Eve made?
Probably the day after Shabbat, or Yom Rishon a new wife on the new week.
Genesis 2:18 and 20-23! There is an outside chance that the rib removal was not
a new work and would not be classified as work and as Adam celebrated his first
Shabbat that during Shabbat sleep YHWH brought forth Eve, just like today a
baby can be born on Shabbat without the parents breaking the Shabbat. Either
scenario works well.
Now note Adam’s literal words in verse 23! Now THIS IS MORE LIKE IT! In other
words, unlike Lilith from the earth, Eve is bone from his bone and flesh from his
flesh! In the Hebrew he exclaims the contrast between wife # 1’s origin and wife
# 2’s origin!
After Yahuwah created Adam, who was alone, He said, 'It is not good for man to be
alone.' He then created a woman for Adam, from the earth, as He had created Adam
himself, and called her Lilith. Adam and Lilith immediately began to fight. She said, 'I
will not lie below,' and he said, 'I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are
fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one.' Lilith
responded, 'We are equal to each other inasmuch as we were both created from the
earth on the same sixth day.' But they would not listen to one another. When Lilith
saw this, she pronounced the Ineffable Name Yahuwah and flew away into the air.
In Isaiah 34:14 we have a pretty clear reference to this first wife named Lilith in
Hebrew, the root word being NIGHT-DARKNESS. Her exile from Eden is referenced:
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet in it with the wild beasts of the island, and the
billy-goats shall call to each other; the [definite article] night creature (LILIETH) also shall
rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. Verse 6 refers to Bozrah-Iraq the land where
the Tigris and Euphrates meet, the possible outer parts of the Garden of Eden.
This is why Yahuwah WARNED the second wife not to follow in the way of the first wife.
See the warning to the second wife in Genesis 3:16! This very warning indicates that
another event had taken place with the first woman, so that YHWH and Adam both
already knew that woman’s natural desire is to control, manipulate and emaciate the man.
She (Eve) and all women after her must battle and overcome this natural evil inclination
or the Yetzer Harah. Once the truth of the first wife disappeared, s.a.tan was free to
propagate the myth that monogamy is the original perfect pattern. Monogamy was not
only not perfect, see Lilith’s example, but it was not the original pattern, as there were 2
women in the Garden at the same time. One left one stayed. One from the ground called
or part of The Adam who became Lilith, the other from the rib and became Chavah. Let’s
look at Matthew 19 to PROVE that one man one woman was NOT the original pattern
and NOT His perfect will. His perfect will differs from family to family and must be
individually sought, not based on some myth called the perfect will of one man for one
woman. That’s a lie we have all bought into at one time. Matthew19:3-10. We read this
carefully and see that the issue is not the original pattern but the issue of divorce. Rather
than establish monogamy it honors ALL marriage and forbids divorce on demand! Still
with me!
Legend says-Adam stood in prayer before his Creator: 'Rebonon shel olam-Sovereign
of the universe!' he said, 'the woman you gave me has run away and rebelled.' At
once, the Holy One, blessed be He, sent these three angels Senoy, Sansenoy, and
Semangelof, to bring her back.
Said the Holy One to Adam, 'If she agrees to come back, what is made is good. If not,
she must permit one hundred of her children to die every day.' The angels left
Yahuwah and pursued Lilith, whom they overtook in the midst of the sea, in the
mighty waters wherein the Egyptians were destined to drown. They told her
Yahuwah's word, but she did not wish to return. The angels said, 'We shall drown you
in the sea.’
'Leave me!' she said. 'I was created only to cause sickness to infants. If the infant is
male, I have dominion over him for eight days after his birth, and if female, for twenty
days.’
When the angels heard Lilith's words, they insisted she go back. But she swore to
them by the name of the living and eternal Yahuwah: 'Whenever I see you or your
names or your forms in an amulet, I will have no power over that infant.' She also
agreed to have one hundred of her children die every day. Accordingly, every day one
hundred demons perish, and for the same reason, we write the angels' names on the
amulets of young children. When Lilith sees their names, she remembers her oath, and
the child recovers.
Another account
Lilith with Adam in the Garden of Eden
In some old Judeo-Christian traditions, Lilith was the original wife of Adam. She was
offended when he attempted to have her lie beneath him during sexual intercourse, and
would not meet his request. Comment!
She demanded equality with Adam, because they were created together in the image of
Elohim. When equality was refused her, she left in anger and made her home in caves on the
shores of the Red Sea, taking demons as lovers.
Adam complained to Elohim, who sent three angels (named Sanvi, Sansanvi, and
Semangelaf) to bring her back to Eden.
The angels ordered her to return, threatening that they would kill her children if she didn't
go back. Exclaiming that even this was better than returning to submission, she refused.
The angels carried out their threat. Elohim created a second wife for Adam- the docile Eve.
Lilith was written out of the Bible along the way by one of the many, many translators."
Close-The original pattern, to be even more precise, was not monogamy or plural but
PATRIARCHY: we know this because…
1. Genesis 2:18, which tells us that the woman was made “for (the man).”
2. Genesis 2:21-23, which tells us that the woman was made from the man.
3. The temporal sequence of the creation of the man and woman.
4. Adam’s naming authority and his naming of woman, both in her generic and personal aspect.
5. Elohim’s act of bringing the woman unto the man and the man to the woman.
6. The name of “Adam” itself.
1 Corinthians 11:8-10 Read. Comment.
31 March 2012
Love times three
Love times three is the story of a real modern-day polygamous marriage. Joe, Alina, Valerie and Vicki Darger have written a book which brings to life the reality of plural marriage in our "enlightened" society. They discuss their daily lives, how they deal with raising 24 children, and share many other personal moments and stories. What will surprise skeptics of plural marriage is how well their family functions and how well the sister wives get along. (At least most of the time) What I admire most about this family is how they are willing to put themselves in the limelight and not allow media and society to define who polygamists are. They are protecting their children (and all polygamist's children by extension) the best way possible - by showing the world the beauty of plural marriage thus erasing stereotypes and building acceptance. This book has the potential to change society's views on what plural marriage is all about. If you have ever seen the HBO show "Big Love," THIS true-tale was the inspiration for the show's creation. May many more polygamists come forward and show the world what plural marriage is all about.
Get the book: or read on Kindle:
Get the book: or read on Kindle:
08 January 2012
How to afford multiple wives
It has been argued by many that "although polygamy is valid, a man must be able to financially provide for any and all wives." In past articles, I have dispelled this myth. However, some still use this argument as an excuse to not reap the blessings that Torah-based polygamy offers. Today, I will CRUSH this argument by empowering families to escape the modern world's rat race and live as YHWH intended! http://waystosavingmoney.blogspot.com provides you with the ability to live frugally and increase your earnings and savings. This is a legitimate way to experience freedom, keep Shabbat, tithe and enjoy the blessings of a patriarchal family. YHWH is growing His malchut. Don't allow S.A. tan to rob you of your ability to fully serve our creator through financial hardships. Follow today and be on your way to FREEDOM in Torah! Team Yisra'el is going far!
Ways to Saving Money
Ways to Saving Money
08 August 2011
03 August 2011
02 August 2011
Heritage
Polygamy is our heritage! As Yisra'el, as descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, we have inherited the kadosh lifestyle of our fathers in faith. Don't let S.A. tan and this wicked world deceive you or rob you of what is rightfully yours! Our Abba is married to Oholah the elder and Oholiḇah her sister! Our Savior is coming to claim His brides soon! Woe unto them that call good evil and evil good!!!! Stand proud on the side of Yahuwah! Claim what He has given us! It is OUR heritage, our family, our right! Don't deny His true and faithful word. Accept your birthright in the name of Yahuwah for Yisra'el!
28 July 2011
26 July 2011
Does Your Bible Not Match Your Own Personal Doctrine?
Does Your Bible Not Match Your Own Personal Doctrine?
By The RAMYK Moon 4 Day 25 5971
Since most of you have tragically been taught discipled and even socialized by the Eurocentric western anti Hebraic church, you find yourself in a very strange and even in an uncomfortable position. What do I mean?
Most of you have been taught by blind guides (religious and state) that plural marriage, or polygyny, where a righteous man of faith is married to more than one wife of faith, is either in sin, or a vice that YHWH tolerated in the past, but does not tolerate anymore.
That leaves you with some serious issues when it comes to accepting your Scriptures-Bible as the inspired, infallible and blessed Word of YHWH. The fact remains, that many of the authors of Scripture had more than one wife, including many of the HEROES in the famous Hebrews chapter 11 Hall of Fame of faith. Let's leave out those heroes for a moment and focus in on only the writers-authors of the Scriptures. If what you have been taught is correct, that plural marriage is lustful, sinful, adultery, or at the very best a sinful allowance, or accommodation, for a time, to and for sin, by a holy Elohim, then your'e left without an inspired Bible. Or with a Bible that is tarnished by past allowances for sin. Your "Focus on the Family" has been perverted by false understandings and you have no choice but to be consistent by admitting that if polygyny is sinful, or a sinful past allowance in the Old Testament, then you are left with a Bible written in part by unrepentant sinners, and worse than that, by sinners that YHWH allowed, or used to write His very own Word. Following this faulty logic, which many of you have so foolishly adopted without questions, your Bible is a sinful book and cannot be considered righteous, or set apart, as many of its main authors were by your own flawed definition, lustful, unfaithful to their first wives, or plain out sinners, even after having had an experience with YHWH.
Here then is a list of books that were written by "alleged UNREPENTANT sinners," who continued to sin AFTER their salvation, or their experience of coming to know the Father intimately. If the truth be told, and it is, most of these eternal prophets would be removed from your church, your organization, or personal company!Unless you change your own foolish sinful religious non-Scriptural views, these are the books you will have to remove from your Bible immediately to clean things up, leaving you without a Bible and without the full counsel of YHWH. Ready?
-First Five books-Torah- Author Moses, TWO WIVES-Numbers 12:12 and the Ethiopian.
-Job-The Oldest book 42:10.
-Judges-Written by Samuel son of a polygynous father Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1:2.
-First and Second Samuel-Written by Samuel son of a polygynous father Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1:2.
-First and Second Kings-Written by Samuel son of a polygynous father Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1:2.
-First and Second Chronicles-Written by Ezra 1st Chronicles 4:18-19. Two Jewish wives Yehudiyah and Hodiyah.
-Psalms-Written by David, husband of many wives 1st Samuel 18:27.
-Proverbs-Written by Solomon 1st Kings 11:3. Many wives.
-Song of Songs- Written by Solomon. Many wives.
-Ecclesiastes- Written by Solomon. Many wives.
-Hosea-Gomer and another adulteress 1:3, 3:1-2.
-Boaz 2:8, 2:23-Added Ruth to his set apart wives.
-Justin Martyr admitted that many Messianics [no doubt leaders also] had many wives.
"Your imprudent and blind masters [i.e., Jewish teachers-rabbis] even until this time permit each man to have four or five wives. And if anyone sees a beautiful woman and desires to have her, they quote the doings of Jacob." (Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 134).
Therefore it is very safe to assume that some of these apostles with more than one wife wrote parts of the New Testament.Notwithstanding that however, just removing all the books from the first half of the Bible, leave us with NO BIBLE at all. So if you who vehemently oppose YHWH's revealed ways, insisting on your theology over His own Words, then you need a new Bible. That is because you're left with no Bible and that would end your claim to Sola Scriptura! Consider writing your own Bible, as that's in essence what you have already done by disagreeing with YHWH! 2nd Peter 1:20! Selah!
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