Although polygamy was permitted in the Old Testament, the practice of this plurality was never successful, and the husband lived in hardship between his two wives.

A rival wife could not live in peace with her rival, even if she were her own sister.

An example of this is the bitter conflict that arose between Rachel and her sister Leah (Gen. 30:8), until Rachel said: “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister.”

The competition between them was severe concerning the husband and concerning bearing sons.

Even with a saintly woman such as Sarah, the experience of the rival wife was not successful, although it was by her own desire and guidance.

Thus the matter ended in tragedy, and Sarah drove out her rival Hagar…

Among the unsuccessful examples also are Hannah and Peninnah:

Although Hannah was a very saintly woman, her rival Peninnah provoked her severely, causing her to weep, even during feast days…

The experience of the rival wife is a failed experience:

Even with saintly women, and even with sisters.

Therefore God insisted in marriage that a man should have one wife only, and so it was from the beginning, and so it was repeated in Noah’s ark. It is the divine order.

An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — El Keraza Magazine — Eighth Year (Issue Forty-Nine) — 9-12-1977.

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