A marital associate of a man secondary to his wife. In the OT, barren wives such as Sarah, Leah, and Rachel sometimes give their handmaidens to their husbands as concubines to bear children (
Gen 16:1-3;
Gen 30:3-13). The Torah legally guaranteed the rights of a Hebrew girl sold into concubinage (
Exod 21:7-11).
Gen 16:1-3
The Birth of Ishmael
1Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar,2and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that ... View more
Gen 30:3-13
3Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her.”4So she gave him her maid B ... View more
Exod 21:7-11
7When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.8If she does not please her master, who designated her for himself, then h ... View more
