to Ayesha; Polygamy is not forbidden in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Submitted by Nuray (Portugal), Nov 18, 2005 at 15:17

Dear Ayesha,

You wrote that
" A man deserves four wives" in Islam.

It is a fact that polygamy (plural marriage) is not forbidden in Judaism and Christianity.

Quran allows polygamy too, but not without restrictions:

"If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one" (4:3).

As you see Quran also suggests single marriage.

I copied the followings from a website which gives number of wives of holy people mentioned in Bible
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Genesis 4: Lamech took two wives
Genesis 28: Esau takes an additional wife, Mahalath
Genesis 36: Esau takes two more Canaanite wives
Deuteronomy 21: Inheritance law when a man has two wives
Judges 8: Gideon had many wives
I Samuel 1: Elkanah and his wives Hannah & Peninnah
I Samuel 25: David takes Abigail and Ahinoam as wives
II Samuel 5: David takes further wives and concubines
I Kings 11: Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (wow!)
I Kings 20: Implies King Ahab had multiple wives
II Kings 24: King Jehoiachin had multiple wives
I Chronicles 2: A lot of begatting via multiple wives
I Chronicles 4: Ashur had two wives, Helah and Naarah
I Chronicles 8: Shaharaim had two wives, Hushim and Baara
I Chronicles 14: David takes more wive at Jerusalem
II Chronicles 11: Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines
II Chronicles 13: Abijah marries 14 wives
II Chronicles 21: King Jehoram had multiple wives
II Chronicles 24: Jehoiada had two wives
Daniel 5: King Belshazzar had wives and concubines

Are you disappointed? Try Hinduism, Budism or any other religion. They might condemn polygamy.

Nuray

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