https://www.gotquestions.org/polygamy.html
The first instance of polygamy/bigamy in the Bible is that of Lamech in Genesis 4:19: "Lamech married two women.". Several prominent men in the Old Testament were polygamists. Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others all had multiple wives. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (essentially wives of a lower status), according to 1

https://christianityiq.com/bible-characters-who-had-multiple-wives/
One such character is Esau, who had multiple wives from the Hittite community (Genesis 26:34). Another is Gideon, a judge of Israel who had many wives and children (Judges 8:30-31). Elkanah, the father of the prophet Samuel, also had multiple wives (1 Samuel 1:1-2). The Facts on Polygamy in the Bible

https://www.bibleanalysis.org/in-the-bible-many-prophets-had-many-wives-so-why-are-christians-now-against-marrying-many-wives/
This historical practice of polygamy was culturally accepted and prevalent in ancient societies, and the Bible provides accounts of various individuals, including several prophets, who had more than one wife. However, the shift in Christian attitudes towards marrying multiple wives reflects a complex evolution influenced by a range of factors

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_in_Christianity
Polygamy is "the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time." Polygamy has been practiced by many cultures throughout history.: 3 Although the Old Testament describes numerous examples of polygynous (one male with multiple wives) instances of polygamy among devotees to God, most Christian groups have historically rejected the practice of polygamy and have

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/polygamy-in-the-bible/
Top Bible Verses about Polygamy. Exodus 21:10 - If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 - "If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the

https://bible.org/question/why-did-godly-men-ot-have-more-one-wife
Indeed, the nation Israel comes from the offspring of the four "wives" (2 wives, 2 concubines) of Jacob. In times of old, believers had more than one wife, all at the same time. Today, even Christians have more than one wife, one at a time, by way of divorce. If there is something that God is very clear about, it is that He hates divorce

http://www.alamoministries.com/content/english/Gospel_literature/manywives.html
SAMUEL THE PROPHET AND JUDGE OF ISRAEL'S FATHER WAS A POLYGAMIST. Elkanah, a Levite, the father of the prophet Samuel, had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, and Elkanah was not a rich man (I Samuel 1:1-2). Hannah prayed to God for a son and vowed to give him to God as a Nazarite.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-did-god-allow-polygamy
In the same way, Deuteronomy 21:15 isn't endorsing polygamy but seeking to mitigate the division, rivalry, and brokenness that emerges from polygamous unions by protecting the unfavored wife and her children from the husband's favoritism. 2 Samuel 12:8. The prophet Nathan tells King David on behalf of God,

https://www.logos.com/grow/does-jesus-contradict-the-old-testament-on-polygamy/
Great men such as Abraham, Israel, Judah, Gideon, Samson, David, and Solomon had multiple wives, though the Old Testament records many problems that resulted. However, the law actually made it mandatory in one circumstance: if a married man died without leaving a male heir, his brother was required to marry his widow regardless of whether he

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-polygamy-and-what-are-examples-today.html
Updated Jul 11, 2023. The term "polygamy" refers generally to a man or a woman with multiple spouses. There are also more specific terms. "Marriage to more than one spouse at a time" is known as "polygyny" when multiple wives "share a husband," or "polyandry, in which co-husbands share a wife.". There is no specific term for

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/50035/why-does-god-not-just-permit-but-seemingly-encourage-davids-polygamy-in-2-samue
As already mentioned above, the Mosaic Covenant does not forbid polygamy (Moses himself, through whom the Law was given, had multiple wives, as explicitly mentioned in Scripture); were that not the case, then there would have been no logical reason for the Prophet Nathan not to explicitly mention this to David as well, just as he explicitly

https://biblemesh.com/blog/how-should-we-respond-to-old-testament-polygamy/
The patriarchs Abraham and Jacob themselves had multiple wives and concubines. Technically, the practice was polygyny. In other words, men could have more than one wife, but not the other way around (polyandry). Moses had two wives as well. The Mosaic Law likewise accommodated the practice of marrying more than one wife, including captured

https://www.yourtango.com/2019330588/what-polygamy-10-famous-polygamists-bible
9. Saul was a polygamist. Saul was the first king of Israel, and also into polygamy. He had two wives, Ahinoam and Rizpah. Advertisement. 10. Solomon was a polygamist. Solomon is commonly known as

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism_and_polygamy
Among historians, there is disagreement as to the precise number of wives Smith married. D. Michael Quinn reports 46, George D. Smith 38, Todd M. Compton 33 (plus eight "possible wives"), and Stewart Davenport 37.. It is unclear how many of the wives Smith had sexual relations with. Some contemporary accounts from Smith's time indicate that he engaged in sexual relations with some of his wives.

https://www.openbible.info/topics/multiple_wives
Bible verses about Multiple Wives. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 ESV / 147 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful "If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wives_of_Muhammad
A total of eleven women are confirmed as having been married to Muhammad, the founder of Islam.As a sign of respect, Muslims refer to each of these wives with the title Umm al-Muʼminin (Arabic: أم ٱلْمُؤْمِنِين‎, lit. ' Mother of the Believers '), which is derived from of the Quran. Muhammad's first marriage was to Khadija bint Khuwaylid in 595, when he was 25 and she was

https://bibleresources.info/why-did-god-allow-so-many-prophets-to-have-multiple-wives/
Why did God allow so many prophets to have multiple wives? - Bible Christian Resources. Find out the biblical and historical reasons behind this practice, and how it relates to God's plan for mankind. Learn from the examples and experiences of the prophets and their families. - Bible Christian Resources.

https://biblehub.com/topical/m/multiple_wives.htm
Deuteronomy 17:17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Topicalbible.org. 1 Corinthians 7:2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Topicalbible.org.

https://www.deoband.org/2012/12/theology-rulings/the-wisdom-behind-the-multiple-wives-of-the-prophet/
The Wisdom behind the Multiple Wives of the Prophet. 2021-01-03T23:00:04+00:00 By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani | ... From this category is [the permission of] having more than four [wives]. This was permitted [for him] so that he ascends in the hearts of the Arabs in esteem and glory, because they would boast over sexual prowess. Furthermore, in

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/66182/does-the-bible-permit-two-wives
Yes, the Bible permitted multiple wives--but also teaches against this. In special circumstances, it might have been a requirement to marry an additional wife. (This is a touchy topic: Before judging this answer, please consider the evidence.) God's Original Plan. First, God made Adam and Eve--one husband plus one wife.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/polygamist-leader-proclaimed-prophet-20-wives-including-minors/story?id=94787671
A polygamist leader near the Arizona-Utah border had 20 wives, including minors mostly under the age of 15, according to allegations in a probable cause affidavit filed last week.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/16ejkhj/why_did_the_prophets_in_the_bible_have_so_many/
Many of the "heroes" in the Bible were fully sinful people and often did terrible things. The Bible does not endorse polygamy and this is what it has to say about King Solomon having multiple wives. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/08/1141508061/polygamous-prophet-leader-had-child-brides-documents-say
The leader of a small polygamous group on the Arizona-Utah border had taken at least 20 wives, most of them minors, and punished followers who did not treat him as a prophet, new court documents show.