One Aramaic scholar claims that this verse is a clear “monogamy only†verse. He states that “the possessive "his own" and "her own" seem to indicate exclusivity between male and female,†allegedly meaning only one wife per husband. (One thing is for sure, a Yisraelite woman can only have one husband).
He continues “If more spouses were allowed, the nouns for husbands and wives would be plural and the verbs would match accordingly. They don't. Every indication in all these verses shouts for exclusive singularity.â€
Does it? Here’s an example of how it would not. Ziman’s Cement Contracting Co. requires that each worker have his own automobile to get to the different job sites. Would the Ziman’s Cement Contracting Co. avoid hiring a worker solely because the applicant has two automobiles instead of one? Of course not! Some workers may have more than one car, but must have AT LEAST ONE to work.
Moreover verse 19 of First Corinthians 7 holds the key.
19 Brit-milah/circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the Torah of YHWH is everything.
Whatever the TORAH COMMANDS, believers must do. Paul cannot and DID NOT override it. As usual, we have butchered his writings, showing our instabilities when it comes to grasping what he says. Changing Yahweh’s Word to change His eternal ways and ordinances, is the very core of dispensationalism; the myth that YHWH works differently, with different peoples, at different stages in world history. Paul never would and never did have the audacity to overturn YHWH’s allowance for leaders to have more than one wife in the Torah. Yet misguided people still insist that a congregational leader, or elder must “leave the ministry†if he adds a wife or two. What nonsense. What church babel! What a blatant disregard for Yahshua’s Torah! Let’s continue:
The same “at least one wife†Torah principle applies for the minister/worker of Yahweh! Let’s see:
First Timothy 3:
1 This is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a teaching-overseer, or shamesh, he desires a tov/good work.
2 A teaching overseeing shamesh then must be blameless, the husband of/by one wife, vigilant, sober, of tov behavior, given to hospitality, able to teach;
1 Tim. 3:2-The Aramaic reads: b'khada antatah (literally by one wife). In other words, he must have at least one, or else as a single man he would be open to the vilest of temptations. Since we know the New Testament can NEVER contradict Torah, this MUST be the meaning! Paul has NO AUTHORITY whatsoever to change YHWH’s laws. But the good news is, do not fret. He didn’t and merely confirmed that male Yisraelite leaders had to be married! The same principle applies to 1 Timothy 3:12.
12 Let the shamashim be the husbands of/by one wife, b'khada antatah (literally by one wife) overseeing their children and their own houses well.
In other words if they are called, let them enter the calling BY, or via at least one HETEROSEXUAL wife!
Titus 1:6 -If anyone is blameless, the husband by one wife d'khada antatah (literally by one wife), having believing children not accused of loose living, or of being unruly.
Same rule applies. A single man CANNOT be a long term Rabbi, or Pastor. He can perhaps fill in as a temporary one, or perhaps temporarily function as one, as he waits on YHWH to provide his helpmate/s.
One noted Messianic Rabbi and Hebrew scholar adds this:
“I've attached a scan of a page from Ben-Yehudah's dictionary which shows that "echad-khad" is not just used, as a NUMBER, but also as an INDEFINITE ARTICLE in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and the Swedish also do this, as do many other languages. In Spanish, the indefinite article is only one syllable different than the number "one." So many societies/cultures have seen a connection there.
So when Scripture says that a leader must be the husband of "one wife,†that's the same as saying “a wife,†meaning he cannot be unmarried. To interpret it as meaning a ban on patriarchal marriage would require us either to accept dispensationalism (since Torah clearly permits patriarchal marriage and specifically says a man should not stop supporting his first wife when he marries a second), or accept the ban found in Jewish Oral Law [the Rabbi Gershom temporary ban]; Torah never required that spiritual leaders be patriarchal, but permitted it in general. Torah doesn't require you to participate in patriarchal marriage. It does not demand that you like it. But it does permit it. And if we call "sin" what Torah calls permitted, are we displaying a love for Torah, or a love for what society thinks of us?â€
What about Deuteronomy 17: 15-17? Doesn’t that prove that LEADERS must stick to monogamy?
15 You shall certainly set a melech/king over you, whom YHWH ï€ your Elohim shall choose: one from among your brothers shall you set as melech over you: you may not set a ger/foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
The first point is that this guide or instruction does not apply to Renewed Covenant leaders, but to ancient kings! None of us are kings in the LANDS of Judah, or Efrayim.
16 But he must not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitzrayim, so that he can multiply horses: because as YHWH has said to you, You shall not return any more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his lev turns not away: neither shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold.
This is correct. Kings could not MULTIPLY wives because with that multiplication came MULTIPLE PAGAN DIETIES. Even though mankind may not know the difference between addition and multiplication, YHWH does. Yisraelites are allowed to ADD wives for a CERTAIN NEED, or PURPOSE like sex, more sex, cleaning help, income help, companion needs, or needs of emotional well being. They are NOT allowed to multiply for numerical purpose alone! That is not a heart that follows after YHWH.
A believer can have either a monogamous, or patriarchal heterosexual marriage as seen in Deuteronomy 21:10-17. Let’s have a real close up look:
10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and YHWH your Elohim has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,
Captivity can also apply to someone captive to false religious doctrines. In the natural, or in the supernatural, when YHWH gives us victory, as He always will; we will have to know how to deal with mercy with our captives.
11 And see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire for her, that you would have her to be your wife;
Please note that even if a man is already married and yet desires a captive woman, he has YHWH's authority to take her in and add her to his Israelite family. There are many forms of rescuing captive women, many of which are covered in this book. Those captives in false religions, in domestic abuse, in difficult single motherhood, in a history of bad choices, in slavery to working 3 jobs and not getting by, in captivity to various forms of emotional, psychological and physical hardships; abuse and captivity from government dependency and many other forms of captivity, too numerous to mention, such as widowhood and neglect by family and children. Rachamim the Hebrew word for mercy is the withholding, or removal of judgment. The merciful thing to do is to take a captive woman in to your home and show her, the unconditional love and companionship of an Israelite man and an Israelite family, submitted to a loving relationship with Moshiach Yahshua.
12 Then you shall bring her home to your bayit, and she shall shave her head, and trim her nails;
These rights are symbolic of mikvah and the dying to the old life and the start of a new life. They are designed to show her the mercy of the Elohim of Israel, through a caring and loving patriarchal family. The shaving is symbolic of changing headship from s.a.tan to YHWH. The trimmed nails are symbolic of changing the old human animalistic nature to Messiah’s loving nature.
The first wife, IF she is walking in the Ruach of SELFLESSNESS and not SELFISHNESS and TERRATORIALISM, will willingly crucify her flesh and help the captive woman through this difficult transition of mourning her old pagan ways, upbringing and lifestyle, into the brightness of new hope in Yahshua; this happens as both the established wife and husband show her unconditional love and acceptance amongst an established patriarchal family. In mercy she must not remain a captive, but must make the transition to become an Israelite, through this 30 day period of mourning and repentance, a process similar to when our nation mourned for Moshe Rabainu-Moses for 30 days, before they had new leadership in Yahoshua son of Nun. Obviously this principle is still for today despite what fearful women and blinded believers FEEL!
13 And she shall put off the garment of her captivity, and shall remain in your bayit, and bewail her abba and her eema a full month: and after that you shall go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.
She “shall put off the garment of her captivity.†She will become a new creation by trust and obedience to the Elohim of Yisrael! She will be clothed with the Israelite WEDDING GARMENTS of salvation, in place of the clothes of a slave! Regardless of how many other “one flesh†covenants already exist. The captive woman turned Israelite may be wife # 1, 2, 3, 4, or any other number! These are Yahweh’s ways and His set apart words. He is most pleased when you allow HIS Words to rule your thinking and not your soulish realm, fueled by insecurity, fear and church inherited sexuality. The whole point in plural marriage is to grow the nation through righteous seed; but also to prosper Israel through righteous women, trained by righteous men, who will have their physical needs met as well. This is the Israelite way of being fruitful and multiplying. By taking captive women and discipling them in mercy and Torah, we obey YHWH’s command to be a “light to all nations,†teaching them what Yahshua has taught us and nurturing them as Yahshua nurtures us. No, it’s not all about sex; it’s all about more of YHWH's mind and less of your own, for us and for those we evangelize!
14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she will; but you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her.
As plainly seen, this is not about sex and prostitution; it’s about liberty and freedom. If this added wife, or first wife, for some reason does not work out, she shall be loved and shown the mercy of unconditional freedom to leave and pursue her own life, wherever she desires. She shall not be made a slave to the husband, or family. She also can be free to remain single, or remarry in Israel, or even return to her pagan roots. So here we clearly see plural, along with monogamous marriage not as abusive, or as the domination of women, or as sex slavery, but as a means to love, manifest mercy, discipleship and Yahweh’s freedom. Just because some do not practice it this way, does not mean that YHWH is not kadosh and that His ways are not kadosh. It means man’s heart always will find ways to abuse YHWH's instructions, whether in monogamy, or patriarchal marriage. Mohammed was a classic example of this abuse, as he abused his 15 wives and took a 9 year old child bride and violated her. Because Islam perverts Torah, does that mean that YHWH also is dirty and wrong about what He allows? YHWH has been around a lot longer than Mohammed and we are to get our examples of holiness from YHWH alone and not from mankind’s perversions and lies about our great King!
Torah is clear. Multiple marriages are VERY kosher! When society tries to FORCE believers to live by laws they have established and by their ADDED perversions, rather than by Torah, we are free to reject those laws and we are free to marry without state approval, before YHWH alone! Let’s continue:
15 If [When] 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,
16 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.
17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Some translations render verse 15 containing the word “IF,†as “WHEN,†as in “WHEN†a man has two wives, indicating a recital of what Israelites had been practicing all along and what was codified earlier at Mt. Sinai as Torah.
This instruction (verses 15-17) is only in the case where one wife is loved and the other hated. In the case where both, or all wives are loved, this instruction does not apply. If men were real men, and shared mercy and sincere love with all their wives, no one wife would be hated. That’s the way a man called by YHWH into patriarchal marriage must behave. Here’s a tip. If you have not learned how to treat and love your first wife, don’t add another wife, as you have not shown yourself ready, or mature enough.
In a situation where one wife is not loved and she has born him the firstborn, regardless of his FEELINGS, her son must remain the firstborn and MUST receive the double portion of the husband’s inheritance. Notice that true Israelite living is done by YHWH’s instructions, not by FEELINGS. The FEELINGS of the husband do not matter! The firstborn inheritance must not be transferred based on FEELINGS. In much the same way, we cannot reject, or condemn plural marriage just because it doesn’t FEEL right; we must be led by Yahweh’s instructions and allowances recorded in His Word. This merciful instruction is given as a safeguard for the children in a plural marriage family. Hopefully, all wives will be loved, treasured, nurtured and made to feel very special to be married to a righteous priest (family leader) in Israel.
These verses above show how YHWH allows plural marriage with strict regulations, so that NO ABUSE takes place towards women, or children. A true Torah following husband will follow these regulations to make his wives feel significant, loved, guarded, nourished and protected, along with their children at all times. YHWH does not forbid plural marriage, but He does keep it on a very short leash. If you choose this lifestyle, you MUST allow YHWH to regulate your desires and feelings!
Speaking of leaders in Israel, Kind David was even promised more wives if he would have asked YHWH, rather than killing Uriah to get one by murder and adultery. YHWH was ready to grant MORE wives had David gone about it the right way. Let’s look deeply into this amazing, but lost truth.
Let’s look at Second Samuel 12:7-8.
7 And Natan said to Dawid, You are the man. This says YHWH Elohim of Yisrael, I anointed you melech over Yisrael and I delivered you out of the hand of Shaul-Saul;
8 And I gave you your master's bayit and your master's wives into your bosom and gave you Beit Yisrael and Beit Yahudah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to you much more.
YHWH clearly says that David is in big trouble for murdering Uriah, so that he could commit adultery with Bathsheba. He tells David that his crimes and sinful acts make no sense, since YHWH already gave him many of King Saul’s potential wives and that if that had not been sufficient, more would be on the way. YHWH felt that David needed that and provided that. As seen in verse 9 and 10 this leader’s sin wasn’t plural wives, but rather the Torah violations of murder and adultery. NOT POLYGYNY!
9 Why have you despised the commandment of YHWH, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriyah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your bayit; because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriyah the Hittite to be your wife.
In verse 11 YHWH even says He will take away King David’s wives because of murder and adultery and BLESS his neighbor with them. Ah what a lucky man he was!
11 This says YHWH, See, I will raise up evil against you out of your own bayit and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives publicly in the sight of the sun.
Based on the immutability of YHWH-Yahshua as seen in Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6, we know that He is the same forever. Therefore all of Paul’s epistles must be seen in the glowing light of Torah and not the other way around. Since Paul lived and died as a completed Jewish rabbi, we know that he would never and did never negate, or teach abrogation of any part of the eternal Torah. Therefore the leadership verses addressed above must be viewed as we view the Tanach verse regarding leaders with plural marriages. Paul said he was sent by YHWH to the nations to establish the Torah, not change it. See Romans 3:31, 7:12. Remember that Peter warned us in Second Peter 3:15-16 that Paul’s writings would ONLY be misunderstood by the spiritually immature and those who would wrestle with them, would do so to their own spiritual harm, hurt and destruction.
Solomon was the only leader ever criticized for multiplying wives; no other Scriptural polygynist, or polygynist leader is ever criticized. And remember that adding a wife is for a purpose to better serve YHWH or the household. Multiplying is only done by someone out of control, like Solomon. Solomon’s behavior gives us some indication of just who crossed the line of multiplying and who did not. Solomon’s sin was not polygyny, but idolatry in an unending attraction to experience the activities of the demonic gods of his wives, who pulled away his heart from YHWH.
Joseph was a future leader of Egypt; an Israelite leader living in Egypt. Yet he refused to have sex, or take Potipahr’s wife as his own. This was not because multiple marriage was forbidden; rather because Potiphar’s wife was already married and he refused to commit ADULTERY. Genesis 39 tells us:
6 c Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" 8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against Elohim?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
Potiphar was not dead and Potiphar’s wife was Potiphar’s wife, not his daughter, niece, an unmarried virgin, or an unmarried widow.
Why was the world destroyed by a flood? Because of evil and idolatry, not polygyny. Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? Sexual sin? Correct. Sodomy. Had they only practiced plural, or monogamous heterosexual marriage, it would have remained to this day. Lot who was a leader, or judge there, knew this and as a leader, offered his virgin daughters (plural) to them for marriage, not rape!
And then we have the example of Job/Iyov:
Iyov’s/Job’s first wife/helpmeet, was the most unsympathetic of all of his friends. Iyov’s wife’s advice was the least helpful and the most sinful—perhaps in the realm of blasphemy.
Iyov 2:9 Then said his wife to him; Do you still retain your integrity? Curse Elohim and die!
It showed her true heart—and it brings serious questions as to whether, or not she was even a believer. She is never heard from again in the book of Iyov; ever. YHWH later tells Iyov to pray for his friends:
Iyov/Job 42:7-9
7 And it was so, that after YHWH had spoken these words to Iyov, YHWH said to Elifaz the Temanite, My anger is lit against you and against your two chaverim/friends: for you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, like My eved/servant Iyov has.
8 Therefore take now seven bullocks and seven rams and go to My eved/servant Iyov and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My eved Iyov shall make tefillah/prayer for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of Me the thing which is right, like My eved Iyov.
9 So Elifaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Tzofar the Na’amathite went and did according to what YHWH commanded them: YHWH also accepted Iyov.
But Notice that Iyov was not told to make tefillah/prayer for his wife. Why? The silence about her is haunting. Perhaps that is YHWH’s way of warning rebellious nagging wives?
Iyov 42:10
And YHWH turned the captivity of Iyov/Job, when he made tefillah/prayer for his chaverim: also YHWH gave Iyov twice as much as he had before.
When YHWH restored what Iyov/Job had previously lost, everything was doubled. By implication, he had two new wives, who apparently bore the most beautiful women in the land—which might also say something about themselves.
Iyov 42:15:
And in all the land were no women found as beautiful as the daughters of Iyov: and their abba gave them a full inheritance among their brothers.
The sexual practice of our ancestors was both monogamous and plural marriage:
We see that righteous Boaz added Ruth to his wives/concubines as seen in Ruth 2:8 and 2:23. Obviously YHWH allowed him to add Ruth, who later would be in the matriarchal lineage of Messiah Himself and therefore Boaz and Ruth cannot be considered an impure relationship.
Here then is a brief list of leaders, or patriarchs in Israel, or those in the lineage of Israel, who took plural wives and did not sin:
• Lamech, Gen. 4:19 2 Adah, Zillah.
• Abraham, Gen. 11:29, Gen. 16:3, Gen. 25:1, - 6, 5 or more; Sarah barren, Hagar, Keturah and concubines.
• Jacob, Gen. 29:23, Gen. 29:28, Gen. 30:4, Gen. 30:9 -4 Leah, Rachel, Rachel’s maid, Bilhah, Leah’s maid, Zilpah.
• Isaac’s son Esau, Gen. 26:34, Gen. 28:9, Gen. 36:2, 6 in total, Judith - Hittite, Basemath – Hittite. Mahalath. – Ishmael’s daughter, Adah - Hittite, Aholibamah – Hivite.
• Judah, Gen. 38:2, Gen. 38:6, 26:2, daughter of Shua, Canaanite, Tamar, daughter-in-law.
• Benjamin, Sefer Yahshar the historically reliable Book of Jasher in chapter 54:84, tells us that Benjamin the son of Jacob received many gifts for his many wives from Pharaoh’s many wives.
• Job, 42:10, twice as many wives as before meaning at least two.
• Moses, Ex. 2:21, Num. 12:1 2, Zipporah, Ethiopian woman.
• Caleb, 1 Chron. 2:46, 1 Chron. 2:48-3 or more Ephah, concubine, concubine Maachah.
• Gideon, Judg. 8:30-Many; 70 sons.
• Jair, Judg. 10:3-4-Many; 30 sons.
• Ibzan, Judg. 12:9 Many; 30 sons, 30 daughters.
• Abdon, Judg. 12:14-Many; 40 sons, 30 grandsons.
• Samson, Judg. 16:1, 4, many women he uncovered in nakedness, Delilah.
• Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1:2 2, Peninnah, Hannah.
• King Saul, 2 Sam. 21:11, 2 or more Aiah, concubine.
• King David, 1 Sam. 18:27, 2 Sam. 3:2-5, 2 Sam. 11:27, 2 Sam. 15:16. -18 or more; Micah, 6, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba, 10 concubines.
• King Solomon, 1King 11:3, 1000-700 wives, 300 concubines. Rehoboam 2 Chron. 11:18-21 2, Mahalath, Abihail.
• Ahab, 2 King 10:1-Many wives, 70 sons.
• Ashḥur, 1Chron. 4:5 the father of Teqowa had two wives, Ḥelah and Na’arah.
• Abijah, 2 Chron. 13:21 Many 14 wives, 22 sons, sixteen daughters.
• Joash, 2 Chron. 24:2-3, Two wives.
• Tribe of Issachar, 1 Chron. 7:4-5 many wives and sons.
• Jerahmeel, - Two wives, 1Chron. 2:26.
• Machir, - Three wives, 1 Chron. 7:15-16.
• Shaharaim, - Two wives, 1 Chron. 8:8.
• Hosea, 1:3, Hos. 3:1 2, Gomer – the prostitute and another adulteress.
• Boaz, Ruth 2:8, 2:23, many women.
• Father YHWH, Ezek. 23:4, 2 houses of Israel. Oholah, Oholibah (representing Israel and Judah).
• Yahshua Ha Moshiach, Rev. 14, 2, Rev. 19: 7-9, 2 Cor. 11:2, Matt. 25:1-13. Collectively one and many in number.
• Yahshua’s 12 apostles. See the end of chapter four for documented historical proof, that many of the original 12 apostles had more than one wife.
• Some of the early Protestant reformers; see the end of chapter four for documented historical proof.
• Yahshua’s modern day, Torah compliant, born again believers/disciples, who like their forefathers, have adopted the allowance to follow the ways of our patriarchs. This is part of the holy patriarchal remnant of Israel.
Now before we conclude this chapter, new and enlightening evidence has emerged regarding Noah. It has been largely assumed that Noah was a monogamist and that in him YHWH restored the original “one man one woman†design found in the Garden of Eden before the fall.
It was assumed that after the earth was cleansed, that YHWH had allegedly shown man that the original design was what He wanted practiced in the renewed earth after the global flood. Thanks to some research by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi Matthew Nolan, we now know that Noah/Noach had at least 2 wives.
-The Patriarchal family of Noach-
“The question arises as to why Canaan was cursed by Noach? Why not curse Ham himself, or Cush, or Put or Mitzrayim? By unfolding our Beresheeth narrative a little further than the traditional story, one of Noach getting drunk and Ham coming in and looking at his naked father, we will soon discover Noach's patriarchal roots. My suggestion is that Noach and Ham were enjoying the fruits of Noach's vineyard in Noach's tent, when Noach passed out.
Ham then went into the adjoining chamber and slept with Noach's wife and then came out and being loose lipped because of his merriment told his brothers. They then backed into the tent and covered their father’s wife thereby covering their "father’s nakedness.†Canaan was the child of this union which is why Noach cursed Canaan.
The Canaanites are well known in the Torah for their perverse sexual practices which we are warned to avoid in Wayiqra. A despicable trait of sexual immorality was passed down through the generational line birthed out of Ham’s sin that took place in Noach's tent (Beresheeth 9:22). What happened is the very thing that Rav Shaul disciplined the Corinthians for; a man slept with one of his father’s wives (Qorintyah Alef/1st Corinthians 5). Yet in our narrative we know that only one of Noach's wives made it onto the ark.
Sefer Ha Yahshar/ Scroll of Jasher and Sefer Ha Yovel/Scroll of Jubilees, tell us of Noach's wives. One named Emzara the daughter of Rakeel who didn't make it onto the ark (Jubilees 4:33). The other named Naamah, Noach’s wife, the daughter of Enoch, who wasn't Ham’s mother, who did make it onto the ark (Yahshar/Jasher 5:12).
Our text in Wayikra/Leviticus 18:7 & 18:8 supports this by clarifying the phrase for Ham’s sin as "uncovering your father’s nakedness," which means sleeping with your father’s wife (Naamah) who is not your mother. The nakedness of your mother is "her nakedness," but the term used in Beresheeth "your father’s nakedness," is in reference to the nakedness of your father’s wife, that was uncovered i.e. slept with.
It is also important to note that Abraham/Avraham lived with Noach for thirty nine years (Yahshar/Jasher 9:5) and learnt the instructions of YHWH and His ways. This is clearly where Avraham learned that to order his house into a patriarchal one, was kadosh/HOLY and acceptable to YHWH, just like Noach before him.
Noah was called by YHWH a righteous man in Beresheeth/Genesis 6:9! A perfect covenant man, despite the fact that he had at least 2 wives! (Confirmed by 2 witnesses; by the wording of Torah and also by the historical Book of Jasher). So from heaven’s perspective, plural marriage done right, is both a blessing and a covenant truth. Let YHWH be true and every man a liar!
He continues “If more spouses were allowed, the nouns for husbands and wives would be plural and the verbs would match accordingly. They don't. Every indication in all these verses shouts for exclusive singularity.â€
Does it? Here’s an example of how it would not. Ziman’s Cement Contracting Co. requires that each worker have his own automobile to get to the different job sites. Would the Ziman’s Cement Contracting Co. avoid hiring a worker solely because the applicant has two automobiles instead of one? Of course not! Some workers may have more than one car, but must have AT LEAST ONE to work.
Moreover verse 19 of First Corinthians 7 holds the key.
19 Brit-milah/circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the Torah of YHWH is everything.
Whatever the TORAH COMMANDS, believers must do. Paul cannot and DID NOT override it. As usual, we have butchered his writings, showing our instabilities when it comes to grasping what he says. Changing Yahweh’s Word to change His eternal ways and ordinances, is the very core of dispensationalism; the myth that YHWH works differently, with different peoples, at different stages in world history. Paul never would and never did have the audacity to overturn YHWH’s allowance for leaders to have more than one wife in the Torah. Yet misguided people still insist that a congregational leader, or elder must “leave the ministry†if he adds a wife or two. What nonsense. What church babel! What a blatant disregard for Yahshua’s Torah! Let’s continue:
The same “at least one wife†Torah principle applies for the minister/worker of Yahweh! Let’s see:
First Timothy 3:
1 This is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a teaching-overseer, or shamesh, he desires a tov/good work.
2 A teaching overseeing shamesh then must be blameless, the husband of/by one wife, vigilant, sober, of tov behavior, given to hospitality, able to teach;
1 Tim. 3:2-The Aramaic reads: b'khada antatah (literally by one wife). In other words, he must have at least one, or else as a single man he would be open to the vilest of temptations. Since we know the New Testament can NEVER contradict Torah, this MUST be the meaning! Paul has NO AUTHORITY whatsoever to change YHWH’s laws. But the good news is, do not fret. He didn’t and merely confirmed that male Yisraelite leaders had to be married! The same principle applies to 1 Timothy 3:12.
12 Let the shamashim be the husbands of/by one wife, b'khada antatah (literally by one wife) overseeing their children and their own houses well.
In other words if they are called, let them enter the calling BY, or via at least one HETEROSEXUAL wife!
Titus 1:6 -If anyone is blameless, the husband by one wife d'khada antatah (literally by one wife), having believing children not accused of loose living, or of being unruly.
Same rule applies. A single man CANNOT be a long term Rabbi, or Pastor. He can perhaps fill in as a temporary one, or perhaps temporarily function as one, as he waits on YHWH to provide his helpmate/s.
One noted Messianic Rabbi and Hebrew scholar adds this:
“I've attached a scan of a page from Ben-Yehudah's dictionary which shows that "echad-khad" is not just used, as a NUMBER, but also as an INDEFINITE ARTICLE in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and the Swedish also do this, as do many other languages. In Spanish, the indefinite article is only one syllable different than the number "one." So many societies/cultures have seen a connection there.
So when Scripture says that a leader must be the husband of "one wife,†that's the same as saying “a wife,†meaning he cannot be unmarried. To interpret it as meaning a ban on patriarchal marriage would require us either to accept dispensationalism (since Torah clearly permits patriarchal marriage and specifically says a man should not stop supporting his first wife when he marries a second), or accept the ban found in Jewish Oral Law [the Rabbi Gershom temporary ban]; Torah never required that spiritual leaders be patriarchal, but permitted it in general. Torah doesn't require you to participate in patriarchal marriage. It does not demand that you like it. But it does permit it. And if we call "sin" what Torah calls permitted, are we displaying a love for Torah, or a love for what society thinks of us?â€
What about Deuteronomy 17: 15-17? Doesn’t that prove that LEADERS must stick to monogamy?
15 You shall certainly set a melech/king over you, whom YHWH ï€ your Elohim shall choose: one from among your brothers shall you set as melech over you: you may not set a ger/foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
The first point is that this guide or instruction does not apply to Renewed Covenant leaders, but to ancient kings! None of us are kings in the LANDS of Judah, or Efrayim.
16 But he must not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Mitzrayim, so that he can multiply horses: because as YHWH has said to you, You shall not return any more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his lev turns not away: neither shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold.
This is correct. Kings could not MULTIPLY wives because with that multiplication came MULTIPLE PAGAN DIETIES. Even though mankind may not know the difference between addition and multiplication, YHWH does. Yisraelites are allowed to ADD wives for a CERTAIN NEED, or PURPOSE like sex, more sex, cleaning help, income help, companion needs, or needs of emotional well being. They are NOT allowed to multiply for numerical purpose alone! That is not a heart that follows after YHWH.
A believer can have either a monogamous, or patriarchal heterosexual marriage as seen in Deuteronomy 21:10-17. Let’s have a real close up look:
10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and YHWH your Elohim has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,
Captivity can also apply to someone captive to false religious doctrines. In the natural, or in the supernatural, when YHWH gives us victory, as He always will; we will have to know how to deal with mercy with our captives.
11 And see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire for her, that you would have her to be your wife;
Please note that even if a man is already married and yet desires a captive woman, he has YHWH's authority to take her in and add her to his Israelite family. There are many forms of rescuing captive women, many of which are covered in this book. Those captives in false religions, in domestic abuse, in difficult single motherhood, in a history of bad choices, in slavery to working 3 jobs and not getting by, in captivity to various forms of emotional, psychological and physical hardships; abuse and captivity from government dependency and many other forms of captivity, too numerous to mention, such as widowhood and neglect by family and children. Rachamim the Hebrew word for mercy is the withholding, or removal of judgment. The merciful thing to do is to take a captive woman in to your home and show her, the unconditional love and companionship of an Israelite man and an Israelite family, submitted to a loving relationship with Moshiach Yahshua.
12 Then you shall bring her home to your bayit, and she shall shave her head, and trim her nails;
These rights are symbolic of mikvah and the dying to the old life and the start of a new life. They are designed to show her the mercy of the Elohim of Israel, through a caring and loving patriarchal family. The shaving is symbolic of changing headship from s.a.tan to YHWH. The trimmed nails are symbolic of changing the old human animalistic nature to Messiah’s loving nature.
The first wife, IF she is walking in the Ruach of SELFLESSNESS and not SELFISHNESS and TERRATORIALISM, will willingly crucify her flesh and help the captive woman through this difficult transition of mourning her old pagan ways, upbringing and lifestyle, into the brightness of new hope in Yahshua; this happens as both the established wife and husband show her unconditional love and acceptance amongst an established patriarchal family. In mercy she must not remain a captive, but must make the transition to become an Israelite, through this 30 day period of mourning and repentance, a process similar to when our nation mourned for Moshe Rabainu-Moses for 30 days, before they had new leadership in Yahoshua son of Nun. Obviously this principle is still for today despite what fearful women and blinded believers FEEL!
13 And she shall put off the garment of her captivity, and shall remain in your bayit, and bewail her abba and her eema a full month: and after that you shall go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.
She “shall put off the garment of her captivity.†She will become a new creation by trust and obedience to the Elohim of Yisrael! She will be clothed with the Israelite WEDDING GARMENTS of salvation, in place of the clothes of a slave! Regardless of how many other “one flesh†covenants already exist. The captive woman turned Israelite may be wife # 1, 2, 3, 4, or any other number! These are Yahweh’s ways and His set apart words. He is most pleased when you allow HIS Words to rule your thinking and not your soulish realm, fueled by insecurity, fear and church inherited sexuality. The whole point in plural marriage is to grow the nation through righteous seed; but also to prosper Israel through righteous women, trained by righteous men, who will have their physical needs met as well. This is the Israelite way of being fruitful and multiplying. By taking captive women and discipling them in mercy and Torah, we obey YHWH’s command to be a “light to all nations,†teaching them what Yahshua has taught us and nurturing them as Yahshua nurtures us. No, it’s not all about sex; it’s all about more of YHWH's mind and less of your own, for us and for those we evangelize!
14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she will; but you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her.
As plainly seen, this is not about sex and prostitution; it’s about liberty and freedom. If this added wife, or first wife, for some reason does not work out, she shall be loved and shown the mercy of unconditional freedom to leave and pursue her own life, wherever she desires. She shall not be made a slave to the husband, or family. She also can be free to remain single, or remarry in Israel, or even return to her pagan roots. So here we clearly see plural, along with monogamous marriage not as abusive, or as the domination of women, or as sex slavery, but as a means to love, manifest mercy, discipleship and Yahweh’s freedom. Just because some do not practice it this way, does not mean that YHWH is not kadosh and that His ways are not kadosh. It means man’s heart always will find ways to abuse YHWH's instructions, whether in monogamy, or patriarchal marriage. Mohammed was a classic example of this abuse, as he abused his 15 wives and took a 9 year old child bride and violated her. Because Islam perverts Torah, does that mean that YHWH also is dirty and wrong about what He allows? YHWH has been around a lot longer than Mohammed and we are to get our examples of holiness from YHWH alone and not from mankind’s perversions and lies about our great King!
Torah is clear. Multiple marriages are VERY kosher! When society tries to FORCE believers to live by laws they have established and by their ADDED perversions, rather than by Torah, we are free to reject those laws and we are free to marry without state approval, before YHWH alone! Let’s continue:
15 If [When] 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,
16 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.
17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Some translations render verse 15 containing the word “IF,†as “WHEN,†as in “WHEN†a man has two wives, indicating a recital of what Israelites had been practicing all along and what was codified earlier at Mt. Sinai as Torah.
This instruction (verses 15-17) is only in the case where one wife is loved and the other hated. In the case where both, or all wives are loved, this instruction does not apply. If men were real men, and shared mercy and sincere love with all their wives, no one wife would be hated. That’s the way a man called by YHWH into patriarchal marriage must behave. Here’s a tip. If you have not learned how to treat and love your first wife, don’t add another wife, as you have not shown yourself ready, or mature enough.
In a situation where one wife is not loved and she has born him the firstborn, regardless of his FEELINGS, her son must remain the firstborn and MUST receive the double portion of the husband’s inheritance. Notice that true Israelite living is done by YHWH’s instructions, not by FEELINGS. The FEELINGS of the husband do not matter! The firstborn inheritance must not be transferred based on FEELINGS. In much the same way, we cannot reject, or condemn plural marriage just because it doesn’t FEEL right; we must be led by Yahweh’s instructions and allowances recorded in His Word. This merciful instruction is given as a safeguard for the children in a plural marriage family. Hopefully, all wives will be loved, treasured, nurtured and made to feel very special to be married to a righteous priest (family leader) in Israel.
These verses above show how YHWH allows plural marriage with strict regulations, so that NO ABUSE takes place towards women, or children. A true Torah following husband will follow these regulations to make his wives feel significant, loved, guarded, nourished and protected, along with their children at all times. YHWH does not forbid plural marriage, but He does keep it on a very short leash. If you choose this lifestyle, you MUST allow YHWH to regulate your desires and feelings!
Speaking of leaders in Israel, Kind David was even promised more wives if he would have asked YHWH, rather than killing Uriah to get one by murder and adultery. YHWH was ready to grant MORE wives had David gone about it the right way. Let’s look deeply into this amazing, but lost truth.
Let’s look at Second Samuel 12:7-8.
7 And Natan said to Dawid, You are the man. This says YHWH Elohim of Yisrael, I anointed you melech over Yisrael and I delivered you out of the hand of Shaul-Saul;
8 And I gave you your master's bayit and your master's wives into your bosom and gave you Beit Yisrael and Beit Yahudah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to you much more.
YHWH clearly says that David is in big trouble for murdering Uriah, so that he could commit adultery with Bathsheba. He tells David that his crimes and sinful acts make no sense, since YHWH already gave him many of King Saul’s potential wives and that if that had not been sufficient, more would be on the way. YHWH felt that David needed that and provided that. As seen in verse 9 and 10 this leader’s sin wasn’t plural wives, but rather the Torah violations of murder and adultery. NOT POLYGYNY!
9 Why have you despised the commandment of YHWH, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriyah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your bayit; because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriyah the Hittite to be your wife.
In verse 11 YHWH even says He will take away King David’s wives because of murder and adultery and BLESS his neighbor with them. Ah what a lucky man he was!
11 This says YHWH, See, I will raise up evil against you out of your own bayit and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives publicly in the sight of the sun.
Based on the immutability of YHWH-Yahshua as seen in Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6, we know that He is the same forever. Therefore all of Paul’s epistles must be seen in the glowing light of Torah and not the other way around. Since Paul lived and died as a completed Jewish rabbi, we know that he would never and did never negate, or teach abrogation of any part of the eternal Torah. Therefore the leadership verses addressed above must be viewed as we view the Tanach verse regarding leaders with plural marriages. Paul said he was sent by YHWH to the nations to establish the Torah, not change it. See Romans 3:31, 7:12. Remember that Peter warned us in Second Peter 3:15-16 that Paul’s writings would ONLY be misunderstood by the spiritually immature and those who would wrestle with them, would do so to their own spiritual harm, hurt and destruction.
Solomon was the only leader ever criticized for multiplying wives; no other Scriptural polygynist, or polygynist leader is ever criticized. And remember that adding a wife is for a purpose to better serve YHWH or the household. Multiplying is only done by someone out of control, like Solomon. Solomon’s behavior gives us some indication of just who crossed the line of multiplying and who did not. Solomon’s sin was not polygyny, but idolatry in an unending attraction to experience the activities of the demonic gods of his wives, who pulled away his heart from YHWH.
Joseph was a future leader of Egypt; an Israelite leader living in Egypt. Yet he refused to have sex, or take Potipahr’s wife as his own. This was not because multiple marriage was forbidden; rather because Potiphar’s wife was already married and he refused to commit ADULTERY. Genesis 39 tells us:
6 c Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" 8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against Elohim?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
Potiphar was not dead and Potiphar’s wife was Potiphar’s wife, not his daughter, niece, an unmarried virgin, or an unmarried widow.
Why was the world destroyed by a flood? Because of evil and idolatry, not polygyny. Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? Sexual sin? Correct. Sodomy. Had they only practiced plural, or monogamous heterosexual marriage, it would have remained to this day. Lot who was a leader, or judge there, knew this and as a leader, offered his virgin daughters (plural) to them for marriage, not rape!
And then we have the example of Job/Iyov:
Iyov’s/Job’s first wife/helpmeet, was the most unsympathetic of all of his friends. Iyov’s wife’s advice was the least helpful and the most sinful—perhaps in the realm of blasphemy.
Iyov 2:9 Then said his wife to him; Do you still retain your integrity? Curse Elohim and die!
It showed her true heart—and it brings serious questions as to whether, or not she was even a believer. She is never heard from again in the book of Iyov; ever. YHWH later tells Iyov to pray for his friends:
Iyov/Job 42:7-9
7 And it was so, that after YHWH had spoken these words to Iyov, YHWH said to Elifaz the Temanite, My anger is lit against you and against your two chaverim/friends: for you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, like My eved/servant Iyov has.
8 Therefore take now seven bullocks and seven rams and go to My eved/servant Iyov and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My eved Iyov shall make tefillah/prayer for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of Me the thing which is right, like My eved Iyov.
9 So Elifaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Tzofar the Na’amathite went and did according to what YHWH commanded them: YHWH also accepted Iyov.
But Notice that Iyov was not told to make tefillah/prayer for his wife. Why? The silence about her is haunting. Perhaps that is YHWH’s way of warning rebellious nagging wives?
Iyov 42:10
And YHWH turned the captivity of Iyov/Job, when he made tefillah/prayer for his chaverim: also YHWH gave Iyov twice as much as he had before.
When YHWH restored what Iyov/Job had previously lost, everything was doubled. By implication, he had two new wives, who apparently bore the most beautiful women in the land—which might also say something about themselves.
Iyov 42:15:
And in all the land were no women found as beautiful as the daughters of Iyov: and their abba gave them a full inheritance among their brothers.
The sexual practice of our ancestors was both monogamous and plural marriage:
We see that righteous Boaz added Ruth to his wives/concubines as seen in Ruth 2:8 and 2:23. Obviously YHWH allowed him to add Ruth, who later would be in the matriarchal lineage of Messiah Himself and therefore Boaz and Ruth cannot be considered an impure relationship.
Here then is a brief list of leaders, or patriarchs in Israel, or those in the lineage of Israel, who took plural wives and did not sin:
• Lamech, Gen. 4:19 2 Adah, Zillah.
• Abraham, Gen. 11:29, Gen. 16:3, Gen. 25:1, - 6, 5 or more; Sarah barren, Hagar, Keturah and concubines.
• Jacob, Gen. 29:23, Gen. 29:28, Gen. 30:4, Gen. 30:9 -4 Leah, Rachel, Rachel’s maid, Bilhah, Leah’s maid, Zilpah.
• Isaac’s son Esau, Gen. 26:34, Gen. 28:9, Gen. 36:2, 6 in total, Judith - Hittite, Basemath – Hittite. Mahalath. – Ishmael’s daughter, Adah - Hittite, Aholibamah – Hivite.
• Judah, Gen. 38:2, Gen. 38:6, 26:2, daughter of Shua, Canaanite, Tamar, daughter-in-law.
• Benjamin, Sefer Yahshar the historically reliable Book of Jasher in chapter 54:84, tells us that Benjamin the son of Jacob received many gifts for his many wives from Pharaoh’s many wives.
• Job, 42:10, twice as many wives as before meaning at least two.
• Moses, Ex. 2:21, Num. 12:1 2, Zipporah, Ethiopian woman.
• Caleb, 1 Chron. 2:46, 1 Chron. 2:48-3 or more Ephah, concubine, concubine Maachah.
• Gideon, Judg. 8:30-Many; 70 sons.
• Jair, Judg. 10:3-4-Many; 30 sons.
• Ibzan, Judg. 12:9 Many; 30 sons, 30 daughters.
• Abdon, Judg. 12:14-Many; 40 sons, 30 grandsons.
• Samson, Judg. 16:1, 4, many women he uncovered in nakedness, Delilah.
• Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1:2 2, Peninnah, Hannah.
• King Saul, 2 Sam. 21:11, 2 or more Aiah, concubine.
• King David, 1 Sam. 18:27, 2 Sam. 3:2-5, 2 Sam. 11:27, 2 Sam. 15:16. -18 or more; Micah, 6, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba, 10 concubines.
• King Solomon, 1King 11:3, 1000-700 wives, 300 concubines. Rehoboam 2 Chron. 11:18-21 2, Mahalath, Abihail.
• Ahab, 2 King 10:1-Many wives, 70 sons.
• Ashḥur, 1Chron. 4:5 the father of Teqowa had two wives, Ḥelah and Na’arah.
• Abijah, 2 Chron. 13:21 Many 14 wives, 22 sons, sixteen daughters.
• Joash, 2 Chron. 24:2-3, Two wives.
• Tribe of Issachar, 1 Chron. 7:4-5 many wives and sons.
• Jerahmeel, - Two wives, 1Chron. 2:26.
• Machir, - Three wives, 1 Chron. 7:15-16.
• Shaharaim, - Two wives, 1 Chron. 8:8.
• Hosea, 1:3, Hos. 3:1 2, Gomer – the prostitute and another adulteress.
• Boaz, Ruth 2:8, 2:23, many women.
• Father YHWH, Ezek. 23:4, 2 houses of Israel. Oholah, Oholibah (representing Israel and Judah).
• Yahshua Ha Moshiach, Rev. 14, 2, Rev. 19: 7-9, 2 Cor. 11:2, Matt. 25:1-13. Collectively one and many in number.
• Yahshua’s 12 apostles. See the end of chapter four for documented historical proof, that many of the original 12 apostles had more than one wife.
• Some of the early Protestant reformers; see the end of chapter four for documented historical proof.
• Yahshua’s modern day, Torah compliant, born again believers/disciples, who like their forefathers, have adopted the allowance to follow the ways of our patriarchs. This is part of the holy patriarchal remnant of Israel.
Now before we conclude this chapter, new and enlightening evidence has emerged regarding Noah. It has been largely assumed that Noah was a monogamist and that in him YHWH restored the original “one man one woman†design found in the Garden of Eden before the fall.
It was assumed that after the earth was cleansed, that YHWH had allegedly shown man that the original design was what He wanted practiced in the renewed earth after the global flood. Thanks to some research by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi Matthew Nolan, we now know that Noah/Noach had at least 2 wives.
-The Patriarchal family of Noach-
“The question arises as to why Canaan was cursed by Noach? Why not curse Ham himself, or Cush, or Put or Mitzrayim? By unfolding our Beresheeth narrative a little further than the traditional story, one of Noach getting drunk and Ham coming in and looking at his naked father, we will soon discover Noach's patriarchal roots. My suggestion is that Noach and Ham were enjoying the fruits of Noach's vineyard in Noach's tent, when Noach passed out.
Ham then went into the adjoining chamber and slept with Noach's wife and then came out and being loose lipped because of his merriment told his brothers. They then backed into the tent and covered their father’s wife thereby covering their "father’s nakedness.†Canaan was the child of this union which is why Noach cursed Canaan.
The Canaanites are well known in the Torah for their perverse sexual practices which we are warned to avoid in Wayiqra. A despicable trait of sexual immorality was passed down through the generational line birthed out of Ham’s sin that took place in Noach's tent (Beresheeth 9:22). What happened is the very thing that Rav Shaul disciplined the Corinthians for; a man slept with one of his father’s wives (Qorintyah Alef/1st Corinthians 5). Yet in our narrative we know that only one of Noach's wives made it onto the ark.
Sefer Ha Yahshar/ Scroll of Jasher and Sefer Ha Yovel/Scroll of Jubilees, tell us of Noach's wives. One named Emzara the daughter of Rakeel who didn't make it onto the ark (Jubilees 4:33). The other named Naamah, Noach’s wife, the daughter of Enoch, who wasn't Ham’s mother, who did make it onto the ark (Yahshar/Jasher 5:12).
Our text in Wayikra/Leviticus 18:7 & 18:8 supports this by clarifying the phrase for Ham’s sin as "uncovering your father’s nakedness," which means sleeping with your father’s wife (Naamah) who is not your mother. The nakedness of your mother is "her nakedness," but the term used in Beresheeth "your father’s nakedness," is in reference to the nakedness of your father’s wife, that was uncovered i.e. slept with.
It is also important to note that Abraham/Avraham lived with Noach for thirty nine years (Yahshar/Jasher 9:5) and learnt the instructions of YHWH and His ways. This is clearly where Avraham learned that to order his house into a patriarchal one, was kadosh/HOLY and acceptable to YHWH, just like Noach before him.
Noah was called by YHWH a righteous man in Beresheeth/Genesis 6:9! A perfect covenant man, despite the fact that he had at least 2 wives! (Confirmed by 2 witnesses; by the wording of Torah and also by the historical Book of Jasher). So from heaven’s perspective, plural marriage done right, is both a blessing and a covenant truth. Let YHWH be true and every man a liar!
