Thank you for participating. You are hitting the nail on the head, if I may say so

As far as we can tell, Isaiah 4, as well as Isaiah 3 of course and many other chapters of the book of Isaiah, is prophesy indeed, that is, therein is described what is going to happen. And the polygamy scenario we find here is not only described, but also qualified:
“In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel.” (Isa 4:2)

Thank you again for your contribution. Although I am aware that I am assuming a lot here, it is very refreshing to meet a God fearing women who is able to accept that polygamy is a valid form of marriage according to the Law Word of Yahweh.

Grace and Peace,
Talitha

We discussed New Testament/ New Covenant references to polygamy in two articles on this site. Here are the links:

http://www.christian-polygamy.com/about-marriage/
http://www.christian-polygamy.com/marriage-references-in-scripture/

As for the Old and New Covenant, the terms of both contracts are the same, only the parties involved have changed. Whereas the Old Covenant was made with the people of Israel, the New Covenant has been made with everyone who is a spiritual son / daughter of Abraham. Fulfillment does not mean that the terms of the contract are suddenly abolished – God’s Law, God’s standard of what is right and what is wrong, is as valid in the New Covenant as it was in the Old, is as valid today as it was 2000 years ago.

Grace and Peace,
Talitha

Wasn’t Christ the fulfillment of the Old Covenant????

As for a proper understanding of the differences between wives, maidservants and concubines, you might consider reading Gary North’s “Tools of Dominion”. Concubines weren’t sex slaves, not in the Hebrew mindset, so you need to do some research there. “Tools of Dominion” is available for free in pdf format at freebooks.com.

I referenced Exo 21:10 to show you the things a husband owes his wife, no matter what status she has, and isn’t it peculiar that the very same things are mentioned in Isa 4:1 again, minus the bit about “marital rights”. By the way, how do you think the status of each of these 7 women who cling to the one man in Isa 4:1 is to be determined ? What makes them wives or concubines ?

What you say you “feel” about Rachel’s reproach boils down to the same thing: She was barren, which was her reproach. Leah wasn’t “more fertile” than Rachel, she simply was fertile, whereas Rachel was not. You find the same barrenness in Hannah, and God closed her womb for the same reason too, though her husband was not married to her sister too. Consistency in your interpretation of Scripture matters more than your feelings, unfortunately.

And yes indeed, Isaiah prophecies for Jews living in Jerusalem and Judea just like Jesus does in Matthew 24 and 25, so I guess in your mind, that doesn’t apply either to believers of today’s world.

I wonder if you are a believer, actually, or if reading the bible is just an intellectual exercise for you. Regardless though, consistency matters whether or not you actually fear God.

Grace and Peace,
Talitha

I rather feel that the “reproach” that Rachel felt had more to do with Leah being more fertile than she — than with fulfilling God’s mandate to populate the earth. That’s why God commanded that a man could not marry a woman AND her sister, because of the jealousy that it engenders.

Now, that prophecy in Isaiah is for the Jews living in Jerusalem and Judea — not for Gentiles living in America or anywhere else.