[SunkenCiv]

Well, uh, yeah, marriage has been a one-on-one arrangement, other than the multiple wives that are found throughout the Old Testament.

[Persevero]

The multiple wives in the Old Testament were not directed by God and were shown to cause a world of hurt.

[grey_whiskers]

Well, uh, yeah, marriage has been a one-on-one arrangement, other than the multiple wives that are found throughout the Old Testament.

Abraham screwing Hagar caused a world of hurt, though.

And Solomon's wives kinda screwed him over, too.

[SubMareener]

“other than the multiple wives that are found throughout the Old Testament.” Right, and there isn’t a one of those situations that lead to a healthy family life. Cautionary tales all!

[the_daug]

Issac one wife hardly any problems Jacob 4 wives tons of problems.

[familyop]

Yes. Some people refer to Deuteronomy 17:17 (not take many wives) as a limitation to one wife for a king. “Heart must not turn away” brings to mind situations where kings with many wives and/or foreign wives were later led into idolatry by wives who started indulging in it (especially foreign wives or wives who socialized with foreigners). On David, see II Samuel 12:8, where Nathan said of David’s six wives, that he could add six and six more if necessary (like them and like them). Even with that allowance and blessing that was sufficient, the evils were committed.

[wastoute]

If you read your Old Testament you will find that just about the entire story of the Patriarchs is what evil comes from multiple wives...

[Mrs. Don-o]

A lot of that bidniz about multiple wives in the OT may very well be meant in a cautionary way. A lot of fraught relationships, fighting, and rivalry in those polygamous set-ups, both with Wife#1 vs Wife#2 stress, and Sons-of-wife#1 vs Sons-of-wife#3 and #4.

And check out the homicide rate.

As I think Gilda Radner once observed: "If you can't be a Good Example, you'll just have to serve as a Horrible Warning."

[Lazamataz]

I love you.