Topical Bible: Polygamy: The Evil Effects of Jacob's

◄ Polygamy: The Evil Effects of Jacob's ►

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Polygamy, the practice of having more than one wife, is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often leading to familial discord and spiritual challenges. The life of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israel, provides a poignant example of the adverse effects of polygamy.

Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, initially sought to marry Rachel, the daughter of Laban, as recorded in Genesis 29. However, due to Laban's deception, Jacob first married Leah, Rachel's older sister, before eventually marrying Rachel as well. This arrangement set the stage for a household fraught with rivalry and strife.

The rivalry between Leah and Rachel is evident from the outset. Leah, feeling unloved, bore Jacob several sons, hoping to win his affection. Genesis 29:31-32 states, "When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, 'Because the LORD has seen my affliction, surely my husband will love me now.'" Leah's desire for Jacob's love and Rachel's envy of Leah's fertility created a tense and competitive atmosphere.

Rachel, desperate to bear children, gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, resulting in the birth of Dan and Naphtali. Leah, not to be outdone, gave her maidservant Zilpah to Jacob, who bore Gad and Asher. This competition for Jacob's favor and the desire for children led to a complex family dynamic, as seen in Genesis 30:1-3 : "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Jacob, she envied her sister. 'Give me sons, or I will die!' she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?' Then she said, 'Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Go sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, and through her I too can build a family.'"

The discord extended to Jacob's children, most notably in the account of Joseph, Rachel's firstborn. Joseph was favored by Jacob, which incited jealousy and hatred among his brothers, the sons of Leah and the maidservants. This animosity culminated in the brothers selling Joseph into slavery, as described in Genesis 37:3-4 : "Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because he had been born to him in his old age, and he made him a robe of many colors. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him."

The polygamous arrangement not only led to familial strife but also had spiritual implications. The divided loyalties and favoritism within Jacob's family contributed to a lack of unity and harmony, which are essential for a godly household. The narrative of Jacob's family serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the potential for conflict and heartache inherent in polygamous relationships.

Throughout the Bible, the ideal of monogamous marriage is upheld, as seen in the creation account of Adam and Eve and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The challenges faced by Jacob and his family underscore the wisdom of this divine design, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and unity in marriage.

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Genesis 29:30
And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
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Genesis 30:15
And she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? and would you take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with you to night for your son's mandrakes.
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