Reply To: Marriage

I think some people here are missing the point. Even if pilagshus is not practiced today, the concept in and of itself proves that the purpose of marriage is more than just pru u’rvu. For if we admit that at any point in history the Torah sanctioned the institution of pilagshus and yet still promoted the institution of marriage (not necessarily that it is a mitzva, but that it is looked upon as a positive thing), we must ask what is the need for marriage if pru u’rvu can be fulfilled by a man and his pilegesh? It must be that marriage means more than just pru u’rvu or else it would be superfluous. Therefore the question is, what is the special significance of marriage which the Torah advocates that doesn’t exist in another relationship?