Origin and Sanctioning of Monogamy and Polygamy

Genesis 4:19
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

The first recorded incidence of polygamy is recorded in Genesis chapter four. In the middle of the narrative about Cain’s family, Lamech is mentioned. Then we are told Lamech married two women on n. Just like that and we have our first Bible record of polygamy.

Lamech was the son of Methusael. Methusael was the son of Mehujael. Mehujael was the son of Irad. Irad was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Cain.

In Genesis chapter five we have Methuselah. We also have Lamech and Enoch. These are descendants of Seth son of Adam. Those in Chapter four are descendants of Cain son of Adam.

The two wives of Lamech were Adah and Zillah. The Bible doesn’t say much about this polygamous marriage. It is mentioned and given little attention. We do not know how he married the two and under what circumstances. We do not know whose daughters they were. Did he marry both at the same time, we don’t know. All we know is that Lamech married two women.

The marriage is about Lamech. It is him who married the two. It isn’t God’s idea or order. All we know is that Lamech married two women.

Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Monogamy is recorded as God’s idea. The entire marriage concept is from God by God. Neither Adam nor Eve is mentioned as needing marriage. God offered it.

Genesis 2:21-22
(21) So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. (22) Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

God who could have created women created a woman. God who created a perfect man with top-notch abilities gave him one woman. Adam didn’t think of it. Adam didn’t look for her. God gave Eve to Adam. God originated and created monogamy.

Genesis 2:24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

The marriage God created is consistently spoken of in the singular. From the beginning marriage created by God is monogamous. Genesis 2:24 that we have cited is the foundation of all marriages and it’s in singular referring to monogamy.

The origin and sanction of polygamy are Lamech son of Cain. The origin and sanction of monogamy is God the Creator. Who is the origin and sanction of your relationships?

Polygamy may include living with multiple partners at the same time. Polygamy may include living with several different partners but one at a time separated by divorce that is not biblically sanctioned. Polygamy may include living with one official partner but having another or others unofficially elsewhere. Polygamy has its origin and sanction in a fallen sinful human being.

Since Lamech, there have been many polygamous relationships that included great men and women of faith. It has been practiced for hundreds of generations. It is almost unquestionably good practice. But we must remember that its origin and sanction are not God!

My prayer today is that our relationships and everything else that we do will have their origin and sanction in God and not ourselves. Anything that has God as its origin and sanction will never fail even if it goes through difficulties. May God be the origin and sanction of all that we do and are, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

NB: Three days ago we began a new series of studying messages in chapter four of all the 66 Bible books. Invite others to this journey and let’s do this together for spiritual nourishment and God’s glory…thank you so much for your support and welcome!

1. Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on notification and share) –http://youtube.com/reikesis
2. Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center) –https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rei+kesis&ref=nb_sb_noss
3. Rei Kesis daily blog –https://reikesis.com/