Polygamy among the Jews and Early Christians

By Robert Rosskopf

Polygamy is mentioned in the bible many times, both in the old and new testaments. There are no verses where polygamy is forbidden, but there is one verse where it is recommended that bishops have only one wife.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" (1 Timothy 3:2)
Implicit in this scripture is the understanding that there were Christians who had multiple wives.

The first Jews to ban polygamy, did so in the 11th century, following Rabbi Gershom's council. He wanted to stop the persecution of the Jews.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biogra...
Prior to this, polygamy was practiced by the Jews for over two thousand years. Not only was polygamy not banned, it was supported by Jewish law. In Deuteronomy 21:15-17, rules of inheritance are described for children of multiple wives. In Exodus 21:10, a man is commanded to not lessen the support of a first wife after marrying a second.

Kings are commanded not to have many wives, or to amass riches.
"Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." (Deuteronomy 17:17)

Solomon broke this law.
"And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart." (1 Kings 11:3)

Never-the-less a king can have multiple wives. David was given Saul's wives by the Lord, and inherited the responsibility to take care of them.
"And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things." (2 Samuel 12:8)

Prior to the law of Moses, polygamy was practiced by many people, including the patriarchs. Abraham, and Jacob both had multiple wives. (Genesis 16:2-4; Genesis 29:23-30; Genesis 31:17) Additionally, it was through polygamy that God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, that his seed would become many nations.
Moses was the lawgiver, and he took a second wife. His choice was contested by Miriam, but acknowledged of the Lord.

There are, of course, many men in the bible who only had one wife, including Isaac, the son of Abraham, whose wife was chosen for him, and the sons of Israel, who only had one wife apiece. The practice of polygamy was only practiced by some of the rich, who could afford to provide for multiple wives. Most marriages were monogamous.