CONCUBINE
A term which, in modern authors, commonly signifies a woman who, without being married to a man, lives with him as his wife; but in the Bible the word concubine is understood in another sense- meaning a lawful wife, but of a secondary rank. She differed from a proper wife in that she was not married by solemn stipulation, but only betrothed; she brought no dowry with her, and had no share in the government of the family. She was liable to be repudiated, or sent away with a gift, Genesis 21:14, and her children might be treated in the same way, and not share in their father’s inheritance, Genesis 25:6. On cause of concubinage is shown in the history of Abraham and Jacob, Genesis 16:16. Concubinage, however, became a general custom, and the Law of Moses restricted its abuses, Exodus 1:21-9; Deuteronomy 1:21-14, but never sanctioned it. The gospel has restored the original law of marriage, Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; 1 Corinthians 7:2, and concubinage is ranked with fornication and adultery.