Lin

“Seems like a red herring to bring in polygamy.
Polygamy cannot be blamed on the woman’s “desire” (or lack thereof)”

Charis, I don’t have time to respond to all of your comments tonight but this one kind of stuck out at me. I don’t think it is a red herring at all. Why polygamy? We also see it happen very soon after the fall. The first polygamist was also a murderer.

It is a result of sin being brought into the world. It has nothing to do with one flesh union. It is sexual sin, too, and goes against a one flesh union. God allowed it and regulated it later with the Law. It certainly caused a lot of problems in the OT!

I am not blaming polygamy on women. But women were ‘turning’ to men for all their needs after the fall. Men, in turn, were dominating women after the fall. The OT is all about people living out the consequences of the fall and God working through sinful man for His purposes.

Keep in mind that Eve was never ordered out of the garden yet she followed Adam out.