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

◄ Polygamy: The Evil Effects of Rehoboam's ►

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Polygamy, the practice of having multiple spouses, is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often leading to familial discord and spiritual decline. The case of Rehoboam, son of Solomon and king of Judah, serves as a poignant example of the detrimental effects of polygamy.

Rehoboam's reign is marked by a continuation of the practices of his father, Solomon, who had numerous wives and concubines. This practice, though culturally accepted in ancient Israel, was contrary to the ideal of monogamous marriage established in Genesis 2:24, which states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."

Rehoboam's polygamous relationships are documented in 2 Chronicles 11:21, which states, "Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters." This extensive family network, while demonstrating his wealth and status, also sowed seeds of division and strife within his household and kingdom.

The multiplicity of wives and the favoritism shown towards Maacah led to internal family rivalries and power struggles. Such dynamics are often seen in polygamous households, where competition for affection and inheritance can lead to discord. The Bible does not provide extensive details on the specific conflicts within Rehoboam's family, but the broader narrative of his reign suggests that his domestic life mirrored the political instability of his kingdom.

Rehoboam's polygamy also had spiritual repercussions. The influence of multiple wives, potentially from different cultural and religious backgrounds, could have contributed to the erosion of exclusive worship of Yahweh. This mirrors the experience of Solomon, whose foreign wives led him to idolatry, as noted in 1 Kings 11:4: "For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been."

The division of the united monarchy into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah during Rehoboam's reign can be seen as a reflection of the internal divisions within his own household. The seeds of disunity sown by polygamy contributed to the weakening of the nation, making it vulnerable to external threats and internal decay.

In summary, Rehoboam's practice of polygamy exemplifies the potential for familial and spiritual discord inherent in such arrangements. His account serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, highlighting the importance of adhering to God's design for marriage and the dangers of deviating from it.

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2 Chronicles 11:21
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and three score concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and three score daughters.)
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