How does 1 Chronicles 14:3 align with God's design for marriage? Scriptural Citation “Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.” (1 Chronicles 14:3) Immediate Literary Context 1 Chronicles 14 recounts David’s consolidation of his reign after the capture of Jerusalem. Verses 1–2 highlight Yahweh’s favor; verse 3 states the fact of additional wives; verses 4–7 list their children; verses 8–17 record David’s military victories. The Chronicler simply records events; he neither commends nor condemns the polygamy. Original Hebrew Nuance “Lāqaḥ” (“took”) denotes acquisition but carries no moral valuation in narrative syntax. The verb is waw-consecutive imperfect, a simple sequence marker. The Hebrew text presents the action descriptively, not prescriptively. Covenantal Ideal Set at Creation Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” • Singular nouns (“man…wife”) establish monogamous union. • Jesus grounds His marriage ethic on this verse (Matthew 19:4–6). • Paul analogizes Christ and the Church to husband and wife (Ephesians 5:31–32). Thus, God’s design is monogamy, lifelong fidelity, complementarity. Polygamy in the Old Testament: Descriptive Tolerance The patriarchs, judges, and kings occasionally practiced polygamy. Nowhere is it commanded; it is regulated (e.g., Exodus 21:10; Deuteronomy 21:15–17) and predicted as problematic (Deuteronomy 17:17, “He must not take many wives, lest his heart turn away,”). Yahweh’s law therefore: 1. Permits but never praises polygamy. 2. Anticipates negative outcomes. 3. Uses narrative consequences as didactic tools (strife in Abraham’s household; Solomon’s apostasy; David’s family turmoil: 2 Samuel 13–18; 1 Kings 1). 1 Chronicles 14:3 and Deuteronomy 17:17 David, Israel’s king, multiplies wives in direct tension with the Torah’s royal regulation. Chronicles presents the fact; Samuel records the fallout. The tension serves the Chronicler’s theological agenda: Yahweh’s covenant prevails despite royal shortcomings. Progressive Revelation Toward the Messianic Model Over time, Scripture sharpens the marriage standard: • Prophets: Malachi 2:15–16 warns against faithlessness to “the wife of your youth.” • Wisdom: Proverbs 5:18–19 praises delight in a single spouse. • Gospels: Christ restores Genesis 2:24 as normative (Matthew 19:4–6). • Epistles: Church leaders must be “a husband of but one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6). David’s polygamy stands as an example of earlier human concession, superseded by clearer revelation. Theological Implications 1. Human kings—even the man after God’s own heart—display flaws, accentuating the need for the sinless King, Jesus. 2. Grace operates amid imperfection; the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) endures despite polygamy. 3. Scripture’s consistency is evident: narrative honesty about sin, legal cautions, prophetic critique, and Christ’s fulfillment cohere without contradiction. Archaeological Corroboration • Tel Dan Stele (9th century BC) references the “House of David,” verifying a historical Davidic dynasty. • Bullae bearing names of royal officials (e.g., Jehucal, Shelemiah) authenticate the monarchic milieu recorded in Chronicles. Practical Application for Today 1. Descriptive Old Testament practices must be filtered through creation ordinance and New Covenant teaching. 2. Marriage counseling and church discipleship anchor on Christ’s monogamous ethic. 3. When skeptics cite David’s polygamy, respond: Scripture reports human failures candidly while simultaneously holding forth God’s flawless ideal. Summary 1 Chronicles 14:3 chronicles David’s acquisition of additional wives, a tolerated cultural practice that conflicts with God’s creational blueprint and Mosaic caution. The verse functions descriptively, highlighting divine grace amid human imperfection and pointing forward to the Messiah, who reestablishes and empowers the original, monogamous design for marriage. |
    |