Thank you everyone for your comments, very informative.
What is the reasoning of Israelites being allowed to have concubines?
by EmptyInside 25 Replies latest jw friends
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Quillsky
It's simple really, and still takes place in many places on earth.
Women tend to be non-earners, and hence need to be looked after. Men tend to be earners.
The result is higher earning men looking after multiple women. Of course, do the math and you'll see that the weaker men are left without a woman. Poor them, but it makes complete sense for society.
I kind of like that system. The Western/Christian one-man-one-woman system means that even complete asshole losers have a chance at a wife. Poor wife.
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Quillsky
Hmm.
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crownboy
The reason I recall hearing is that the earth was far less populated back then, so god allowed men to have multiple wives to aid in "populating the earth", but by the time Jesus came this was no longer a concern. No idea where they got that explanation from, though.
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Balsam
Male dominated God, Male dominated religious society. What a perfect opportunity to have all the women they want to have sex with and heck their would never be a chance of being bored. If women had been in control they would have had a simular set up I imagine. If women dominated society it might be the same way in reverse.
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Lieu
Everyone in the Arc only had one wife. Abraham was content with Sarah while she was alive ... when she got old and noticed she was 'sterile', she tossed her haindmaid to him so he wouldn't have to leave his stuff to a servant. After being tricked by Laban, Leah & Rachel, well, that was simply a catfighty 'one-upper.' They were tossing handmaidens right and left at Jacob. [Probably why in the Law Code marrying two sisters was forbidden.] Isaac only had Rebecca.
At other times, in the Bible, one would under obligation marry the wife of their dead childless brother so as to not let his house & inheritance die out.
Solomon well I recall reading somewhere where his concubines and various wives were displeasing to God.
But yeah, ancients had multiple wives and they also had constant wars going on depleting the male populace.