The Biblical Concept Of Marriage Part 4
There were even cases of polygamy being commanded in scripture, something we have been asked about recently. “Where in scripture is polygamy not just allowed by God, but commanded?” So next, let us take a look at Levirate marriage.
Levirate Marriage
The bible requires plural marriage in the case of levirate marriage, at least potentially:
If brethren live together, a brother has to marry, that is, sleep with, his deceased brother's wife in order to provide his brother with an heir, posthumously, if the brother didn't produce an heir himself before he died. Whether the brother is married at this point or not does not alleviate him from the requirement. He would have to take his widowed sister-in-law as his second or third or umpteenth wife and care for her for the rest of her life, and if her refuses to do so, it will be a shame on his whole house (Deu 25:5-10).
Incidentally, levirate marriage not only potentially requires polygamy, but also incest: Of course, as long as the brother is still alive, biblical law would consider it incest if he slept with his sister-in-law. Not so anymore after his brother's death.
Producing an heir for the deceasd brother is the obvious goal of this regulation God gave the children of Israel. And God punishes severely those that shun their responsibility in this regard. Onan had to die - because he was unwilling to provide an heir for his deceased brother, God slew him, it says (Gen 38:6-10).
So if plural marriage was sinful, God would have given a regulation here that demanded sin of His people, and if they refused, He would kill them. Well, the logic obviously fails immediately.
Go back to the beginning and Parts 2 and 3 here:
The Biblical Concept Of Marriage Part 1
The Biblical Concept Of Marriage Part 2
The Biblical Concept Of Marriage Part 3
Read about the biblical concept of adultery here:
Apologetics Part 1: The Biblical Concept Of Adultery
Apologetics Part 3: Are 1Ti 3 and Titus 1 Prohibiting Polygyny ?
