Why the Bible must be understood in terms of sociological relativity (David’s & Solomon’s wives, etc.)

David had at least eight wives and possibly ten concubines with a total of fourteen known sons (including one adopted) and at least one known daughter. That there were more is probable.

And then there was Solomon -

1 Kings 11:1. King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter--Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.

2. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.

3. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.

Having read and said all that, it wasn't the number of women that seemed to concern God. At least that wasn't what God addressed in scripture as what was upsetting to Him.

For David it was his thirst for power, using needless bloodshed and vengeance.

For Solomon it was 4. his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God...

9. The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

Notice that scripture does not say that God was upset with David and Solomon for loving lots of women. It says that God was upset with Solomon for marrying 'foreign' women "...because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."

God didn't address the multiple wives & lovers of David at all. In fact, the judgment that God brought on David for his affair with Bathsheba didn't have anything to do with her being wife number eight, it had to do with David stealing her from Uriah and then having him killed.

God deals with humanity where they are, without regard to the social structure except where the society recognized other gods.

His concern over Solomon turning to other gods was as ultimately devastating as His concern over David lusting after power.

By the time of the Greco/Roman era in Palestine the social dictates were 'one spouse,' as reflected in Paul's writings concerning the church's choosing their leaders.

Scripture never addressed any concerns about how marriage was to be, or social customs of marriage in any era.

Scripture addresses issues that turn men's hearts from God.

Scripture addresses issues that pervert justice; issues that deal with power, vengeance, cruelty, greed, and hatred.

The fact that David and Solomon 'loved' many women; and that the Apostle Paul said that church leaders should have only 'one' spouse, reflects only that each period of the Bible had its own sociological and cultural setting.

God dealt with each person in their own era and setting, and continues to do so today.