Concubinage
/kon-KYOO-bih-nij/
Summary
The practice of taking secondary wives or mistresses, regulated but not endorsed by Mosaic law, which protected the rights of such women.
☩Legal Regulations
Mosaic law regulated the treatment of concubines, protecting their rights even while not endorsing the practice. If a man took a concubine and then was displeased with her, he could not sell her as a slave but must let her go free. Concubines were sometimes called wives in Scripture.
Key verses:Exodus 21:7-11Deuteronomy 21:10-14Genesis 37:2Judges 19:3-5
☩Inheritance Rights
Children of concubines did not inherit equally with children of the primary wife. Sarah insisted that Ishmael, son of the concubine Hagar, would not inherit with Isaac. Abraham gave gifts to his concubines' children but sent them away during his lifetime.
Key verses:Genesis 15:4Genesis 21:10Genesis 25:6
