Deuteronomy 21
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Deuteronomy 21:15-16, If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love.
This is an unusual chapter which deals with how to atone for a murdered body found abandoned and then a mix of laws which we could loosely call treatment of wives and children. I have to admit, I had to reread some of this multiple times. Some of these guidelines seem to contradict other laws already put in place. It seems God allowed some clearly "unBiblical" behavior among his people as they learned what it meant to be his covenant people. Taking a wife in war, issues related to polygamy, and stoning a rebellious child, all leave a bad taste in my mouth. These don't seem like behaviors that a holy God would encourage.
I thought I would touch briefly on polygamy. In this chapter, the law gives guidelines as to how to treat one's firstborn, even if he is not the child of your favorite wife. Throughout the Old Testament, polygamy is tolerated but never encouraged. In fact, we often see the significant problems associated with marrying multiple wives. There are issues related to favoritism, envy, discrimination, and the breakdown of the family system. Think of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar (Genesis 16); Jacob, Leah, and Rachel (Genesis 21); and Elkannah, Hannah, and Peninnah (I Samuel 1).
The intimacy of married life was intended for one man and one woman. Genesis 2:24 states, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." This Scripture is reiterated in the Gospels and the book of Ephesians. The guidelines for New Testament leaders included having only one wife. Paul repeatedly speaks to the sanctity of marriage and the importance of mutual submission, something that is clearly impossible with multiple people involved.
Let's pray...God, Please bless our marriages. Help us remember our marriage covenant. Over the years, human beings have taken what you created and royally messed it up. Forgive us and help us seek a higher standard. Lord, less of me and more of you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.