6. The ancient Israelites were allowed multiple wives in some circumstances
Polygamy was allowed in the Hebraic law and described in the Bible in numerous locations. In Exodus 21, which discusses the law regarding relationships between a man and his children, servants, and others, verse 10 reads, “If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish”, indicating all wives must be treated equally. The following verse proclaims, “And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money”. It is also Exodus 21 which contains the famous verse 24, “Eye for Eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”.
Deuteronomy also refers to multiple wives in its references to the law, including chapter 21, which presents the resolution of a dilemma which could arise in the case of two wives, “one beloved, and another hated”, when both had borne male children. If the firstborn son is mothered by the hated wife, according to the law, he is still entitled to the main share of the inheritance from his father, who could not favor the son of his beloved wife because of his greater affection for his mother. Deuteronomy 17 specifies that the king should not have multiple wives, meaning too many, and as King of Judah, David, had at least six at one time according to the Bible, and possibly more.
