We know not what new light has come to this age of the world, enabling it to interpret the Scriptures more accurately than is afforded by the language of the Scriptures themselves. Whatever it may be, we shall not deprive Dr. Channing nor his disciples of its entire benefit, by the appropriation of its use to ourselves; and therefore we shall proceed to examine his position, by interpreting the Scriptures in the old-fashioned way—understanding them to mean what they say.
The first instance the idea is brought to view which we express by the term wife, is found in Gen. ii. 20 “There was not found a help meet for him.” The original is לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר בְּנֶגְדּֽוֹlōʾ-māṣāʾ ʿēzer bĕnegdô not found, discovered, help, aid, or assistance, flowing, proceeding, at, to, or for him. Let it be noticed that the idea is in the singular. The word ishsha, used to mean one woman, or wife, is so distinctly singular, that it sometimes demands to be translated by the word one, as we shall hereafter find.
Same chapter, verse 22: “Made he a woman,” אִשָׁ֑הʾišâ ishsha, woman, wife.
Ver. 23: “Shall be called woman,” אִשָּ֔הʾiššâ ishsha, woman, wife.
Ver. 24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife,” אִשְׁתּ֑וֹʾištô ishto, his wife, his woman, “and they shall be one flesh.”
Ver. 25: “The man and his wife,” אִשְׁתּ֑וֹʾištô ishto, wife, woman.
These terms are all in the singular number. We propose for consideration, how far these passages are to be understood as a law and rule of action among men.
Gen. vii. 7: “And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark.”
Ver. 9: “There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and female, as God had commanded Noah.”
We propose also for consideration, how far these passages are an indication of the law of God, and his providence, as bearing on polygamy.