Polygamy was also practiced by the
Jews in the Apostolic period. The Catholic Ency. says Polygamy “existed among
most of the ancient peoples known to history, and occurs at present in some
civilized nations and in the majority of savage tribes. About the only
important peoples of ancient times that showed little or no traces of it were
the Greeks and Romans.” Vol. 9, page 694, art., Marriage.
Hasting’s Bible Dictionary says,
“Justin (Dial. 134, 141) reproaches the Jews of his day with having 3, 4 or even
5 wives, and ‘marrying as they wish, or as many as they wish.’ The evidence of
the Talmud shows that in this cast, at least, the reproach has some foundation.
Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews till the time of R.
Gershom (C. A. D. 1,000), and then at first only for France and Germany. In
Spain, Italy, and the East, it persisted for some time longer, as it does still
among the Jews in Mohammedan Countries.”—Art., Marriage.
Now polygamy is not an unpardonable
sin. Rev. W. B. Gobey said, “… amid the darkness of heathendom and
Mohammedanism, we consistently come in contact with this unhallowed and
pestilential institution … In our missionary work in all these lands, we are CONSTANTLY
(my capitals) getting these polygamous people converted to Christianity; in
which case the man must select him a wife from the number of his polygamous
women, giving the rest such attention and help temporarily and spiritually as
duty and ability may permit, at the same time doing his utmost to take care of
his children.”—Matrimony, Page 43. (Cecil M. Washington, The Truth About
Divorce and Remarriage [Nappanee, Ind.: E. V. Publishing House, 2005], 23)