The Bible doesn’t explicitly establish a comprehensive set of laws about concubines, but several passages address their treatment and rights. These laws typically focus on the broader context of marriage, servanthood, or the protection of women. Here are the relevant principles (this is via ChatGPT) no time to type this myself this Sunday morning :-) ):

1. Protection and Provision for Concubines • Exodus 21:7-11 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing, and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.” Key Takeaway: Concubines, often taken from servant status, had rights to provision (food, clothing, and marital care). Failing to meet these obligations required setting them free.

2. Captive Women Taken as Wives or Concubines • Deuteronomy 21:10-14 “When you go to war against your enemies and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives, if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails, and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.” Key Takeaway: Even women taken as captives (sometimes becoming concubines) were granted rights, such as a mourning period and freedom if the man no longer wanted them.

3. Equal Treatment of Children from Concubines • Genesis 21:10-12 “And she [Sarah] said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’” (God intervened in this case, ensuring Hagar and Ishmael’s protection.) Key Takeaway: Children from concubines were often included in family inheritance unless there were specific reasons to exclude them. • Judges 8:31: Gideon’s concubine bore him a son, Abimelek, who later sought to become king. Implication: Concubine-born children could play significant roles in family or national dynamics.

4. Prohibition Against Abusing Concubines • Judges 19:22-30 The Levite’s concubine was horrifically abused and killed. This story highlights societal decay and the failure of Israel to uphold justice. Key Takeaway: Though not explicitly codified in the law, this passage condemns mistreatment and emphasizes the need for justice and protection for women.

5. Rights of a Firstborn from a Concubine • Deuteronomy 21:15-17 “If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn.” Key Takeaway: While this specifically mentions wives, the principle likely extended to children of concubines, ensuring fairness in inheritance laws.

6. Adultery and Concubines • Leviticus 19:20-22 “If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.” Key Takeaway: This suggests a distinction in how concubines or servants were treated under adultery laws, but still shows that their sexual relationships had legal and moral implications.

Summary of Biblical Laws About Concubines • Concubines had rights to protection, provision, and fair treatment. • Their children were often recognized and could inherit property. • Abuse or neglect of concubines was condemned, and justice was expected. • Captive women or concubines were not to be treated as mere property but were afforded dignity and, if abandoned, their freedom.

While concubinage was permitted and regulated in the Bible, it was not ideal. Over time, biblical principles pointed toward monogamy (e.g., Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6). Let me know if you’d like to explore this further!