In the garden of Eden monogamy was clearly the God-instituted ideal. Noah of the Great Flood story had only one wife as did his sons. Abraham the first major patriarch and founder of the Israelites had one wife but also had sexual relations with her maid, an Egyptian slave. Abraham and Sara's son, Isaac, had only one wife. Jacob, his second-born son had two official wives but also had to concubines which were both servants of each of his two wives. Moses had only one wife. King David had countless wives and concubines as did his son Solomon. Elkanah, the prophet Samuel's father had two wives. Joseph had only one wife. Job had only one wife. Some major Biblical figures such as Elijah, Elisha and Daniel may or may not have had a wife even of any kind. Jeremiah was told not to marry by God.
God blessed them and used them in diverse ways to be a blessing to humanity. The polygamists were equally blessed as were those who preferred monogamous marriages. No explanation was given as to why these patriarchs were not punished for engaging in polygamy, a practice that has fallen out of fashion in the western world.
Christ Jesus on the other hand never married. The apostle Paul encouraged his readers and fellow Christians to choose celibacy if at all possible.
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