Ryan Stephens received his PhD in Biblical Studies OT from Gateway Seminary, and he has taught in secondary, undergraduate, and graduate institutions for over 20 years.

Dr. Stephens has written an interesting and necessary correction to an important issue, polygamy in the Old Testament. Because it is difficult to understand why God would allow for polygamy in the Old Testament, but condemn it so strongly in the New Testament, a number of contemporary prominent scholars have advanced the idea that polygamy was never really permitted in the Old Testament either. Stephens provides a scholarly response to their claims and provides fresh support for the view that the Mosaic Law permitted and regulated polygamy. While other scholars have dealt with the issue as a whole and even covered other parts of the argument, the Mosaic Law seems to have been overlooked, Stephens’ word admirably fulfils that deficiency. I highly recommend this work for those examining this important Old Testament topic.

• AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroductionPart IChapter 1: Exodus 21:7-11Chapter 2: Leviticus 18:18Chapter 3: DeuteronomyPart IIChapter 4: Polygamy in the Narrative AccountsConclusionAppendix I: Wives and ConcubinesAppendix II: AdulteryBibliography

Ryan Stephens received his PhD in Biblical Studies OT from Gateway Seminary, and he has taught in secondary, undergraduate, and graduate institutions for over 20 years.

Dr. Stephens has written an interesting and necessary correction to an important issue, polygamy in the Old Testament. Because it is difficult to understand why God would allow for polygamy in the Old Testament, but condemn it so strongly in the New Testament, a number of contemporary prominent scholars have advanced the idea that polygamy was never really permitted in the Old Testament either. Stephens provides a scholarly response to their claims and provides fresh support for the view that the Mosaic Law permitted and regulated polygamy. While other scholars have dealt with the issue as a whole and even covered other parts of the argument, the Mosaic Law seems to have been overlooked, Stephens’ word admirably fulfils that deficiency. I highly recommend this work for those examining this important Old Testament topic.

• AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroductionPart IChapter 1: Exodus 21:7-11Chapter 2: Leviticus 18:18Chapter 3: DeuteronomyPart IIChapter 4: Polygamy in the Narrative AccountsConclusionAppendix I: Wives and ConcubinesAppendix II: AdulteryBibliography

Ryan Stephens received his PhD in Biblical Studies OT from Gateway Seminary, and he has taught in secondary, undergraduate, and graduate institutions for over 20 years.

Dr. Stephens has written an interesting and necessary correction to an important issue, polygamy in the Old Testament. Because it is difficult to understand why God would allow for polygamy in the Old Testament, but condemn it so strongly in the New Testament, a number of contemporary prominent scholars have advanced the idea that polygamy was never really permitted in the Old Testament either. Stephens provides a scholarly response to their claims and provides fresh support for the view that the Mosaic Law permitted and regulated polygamy. While other scholars have dealt with the issue as a whole and even covered other parts of the argument, the Mosaic Law seems to have been overlooked, Stephens’ word admirably fulfils that deficiency. I highly recommend this work for those examining this important Old Testament topic.

• AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroductionPart IChapter 1: Exodus 21:7-11Chapter 2: Leviticus 18:18Chapter 3: DeuteronomyPart IIChapter 4: Polygamy in the Narrative AccountsConclusionAppendix I: Wives and ConcubinesAppendix II: AdulteryBibliography