סדר נשים
, which designates more wives than one
צרות
, trouble, adversaries.)
2. The practice was, however, allowed expressly to the Jewish kings only, perhaps to the extent of four wives, which is the Rabbinic exposition, and coincides with the Koran.
3. Marriage being a civil contract in most heathen countries, as also amongst the Jews and early Christians, polygamy is not forbidden or allowed on religious grounds. Marriage was included under the general head of covenants,
כתובות
, in the Mishna. Barbarous nations generally practised polygamy, according to Tacitus (Germ. 18.); excepting the Germans, who, like the Greeks and Romans, "were content with a single wife," although some exceptions were found in this respect, non libidine, sed ob nobilitatem.
4. Polygamy was not practised amongst the early Christians, who followed the Jews in this matter.
5. Clement of Alexandria (Stromata, lib. iii. p. 461., edit. 1629) says: