[Biblemat] Polygamy proof text (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Don Martin sharing question number 127 for the week on this
Tuesday night:

Hello Phil,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible
Questions.  Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please
check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net  Go to the archives
section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search
page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New
material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can
give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an
online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home
page, scroll down and enter.  While on the Map Site Page, click on
"Online Bible Study Course" in the table.  Click on
http://www.bibletruths.net to go there.

You asked:

Isaiah 4:1 is a verse used by Mormons to justify polygamy in the past
and in the future. But this verse appears to refer to the time after the
destruction of Jerusalem when there was a shortage of men. Can you
elaborate further?

Reply:

Many do not take time to consider a verse, its scope, intent, and context.
The context of Isaiah 4: 1 is concerning the rebellion of God's people and
the fact that He would punish them.  Many would forfeit their lives, even to
the point of "seven women to one man."  This condition of polyandry is not
mentioned to justify it, but only to show the extent of the consequences of
their sins.  I shall do two things at this point.  First, I shall insert
immediately below comments from Matthew Henry's Commentary and
then I shall include an excerpt from, "Polygamy and the Bible," found in
www.bibletruths.net   To read this material in full, when on the home page,
click on "Archives and Index," then click on the letter "P" on the Archives
page.

"...It were well if this were not introduced here partly as a reflection
upon the daughters of Zion, that, notwithstanding the humbling
providences they were under (ch. 3:18), they remained unhumbled, and,
instead of repenting of their pride and vanity, when God was contending
with them for them, all their care was to get husbands-that modesty,
which is the greatest beauty of the fair sex, was forgotten, and with them
the reproach of vice was nothing to the reproach of virginity, a sad
symptom of the irrecoverable desolations of virtue....."

Excerpt from, "Polygamy and the Bible":

     "...An expressed prohibition against polygamy. Those who contend
that the Bible never negatively treats polygamy are wrong. Consider the
warning given to prospective and actual kings of Israel:

     '16: But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people
to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch
as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that
way. 17: Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not
away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold' (Deut.
17)."

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference
(web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both
Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the
bottom of the home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin  dmartinbtbq at comcast.net

Check out our Web sites:  http://www.bibletruths.net
Ask and receive a Bible answer  http://www.biblequestions.org
Simply click on the URL to visit these sites.  You may print out the
material for teaching purposes, see the copyright provision on the
home page of Bible Truths.