Types of marriage in the Bible
Text
Gen 2:24; 1Kings 11:1-11
Aims
to do a concise exploration of the various marriages as recorded in the Bible,
to analyse these marriages and
to discuss their positive or negative implications on human society.
Introduction
The standard of marriage was instituted in Genesis 2:24 between a man, (husband) leaving his family of origin, and cleaving with a woman, (his wife) to become one; this is monogamy. However, we have various types of polygyny marriages in the Bible: Lamech in Gen 4:19; Esau in Gen 26:34-35; Gideon had many wives in Judges 8:30. There is also marriage to slaves or maids known as Property marriage in Gen 16:3-5; 30:3-5, 9-10 and marriage to multitude of women in 1Kings 11:1-3. There are other examples in the Bible, but the basic question is, how peaceful or chaotic is any marriage outside the one instituted by God? This and other pertinent questions shall be discussed in our guides today.
Study guide
According to our introduction, mention three types of marriages as recorded in the Bible and analyse them in contemporary contexts.
Read Gen 16:3-5 and 1Sam 1:1-6 and analyse the bane of polygyny.
What was the effect of polygyny or marrying many wives of Solomon in our text today? 1Kings 11:4
Why do men marry more than one wife in our contemporary society? Discuss within the context of this study.
Conclusion
Many reasons had always been given by Christians and non-Christians for marrying more than one wife. However, there can never be any other marriage that can give peace than the type instituted by God at creation of a man and a woman. As Christians and pilgrims of heaven, we should always advocate this to strengthen the faith of believers.
Food for thought
No matter the love from a man, he can never love two women equally.
Memory verse
1 Kings 11: 4 “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father”.