Concubinage in the biblical context refers to a recognized relationship where a woman lives with a man without being his wife, often with a status lower than that of a wife. This practice was prevalent in ancient Israel and is documented in the lives of several biblical figures, including King David. The laws and customs surrounding concubinage are complex and reflect the social and legal norms of the time.

David and His Concubines

King David, the second king of Israel, is noted for having multiple wives and concubines. The practice of taking concubines was not uncommon for kings in the ancient Near East, serving both personal and political purposes. Concubines could provide additional offspring, strengthen political alliances, and increase a king's household.

In 2 Samuel 5:13 , it is recorded: "After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him." This passage indicates that David expanded his household upon establishing his reign in Jerusalem, a move that was likely both strategic and personal.

Legal and Social Context

The Mosaic Law provided certain protections and rights for concubines, although they were not on par with those of wives. For instance, Exodus 21:7-11 outlines the rights of a female servant who becomes a concubine, ensuring she is not deprived of food, clothing, or marital rights. While these laws primarily address the treatment of Hebrew servants, they reflect a broader concern for the welfare of women in subordinate marital roles.

David's concubines, like those of other kings, would have been part of his royal household, enjoying certain privileges but also subject to the king's authority. The status of concubines in David's time was such that they could bear legitimate children, who might have claims to inheritance, though typically secondary to those of the children of wives.

Notable Incidents Involving David's Concubines

One significant incident involving David's concubines is recorded in 2 Samuel 16:21-22 , during Absalom's rebellion. Ahithophel advised Absalom to sleep with his father's concubines, who had been left to care for the palace, as a public demonstration of his claim to the throne. "So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel." This act was both a political maneuver and a personal affront to David, highlighting the vulnerability of concubines in political power struggles.

After Absalom's defeat, David took measures to care for these concubines, though their status changed. 2 Samuel 20:3 states: "When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer had relations with them. So they were confined until the day of their death, living as widows." This action reflects David's responsibility towards them, even as their role in his life was altered.

Theological and Moral Considerations

From a theological perspective, the practice of concubinage, while culturally accepted in ancient Israel, is often viewed through a critical lens in light of biblical teachings on marriage. The creation narrative in Genesis presents the ideal of monogamous marriage, and the New Testament further emphasizes this model. David's life, including his relationships with concubines, is often examined for its moral and spiritual lessons, illustrating the complexities and consequences of deviating from divine ideals.

David's experiences with concubinage, as recorded in the biblical narrative, provide insight into the legal, social, and moral dimensions of this practice in ancient Israel. His account serves as a historical account and a point of reflection on the nature of human relationships and divine expectations.2 Samuel 5:13
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 15:16
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
Nave's Topical Index

On the Government of God
... Concubinage, 107 f., 194 f.; laws concerning, 107n. Constans, Emperor, 144n, 170n. ...
David, instances of God's government in life of, 71ff., 129, 157, 204, 214. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/index 2.htm

Doctrinal and Moral Treatises. Index of Subjects.
... Head, [840]375; an heretical notion concerning, [841]389 ... Concubinage, for offspring's
sake unlawful, [904]406; was lawful ... 384, sought of God by David, [945]384 ...
/.../on care to be had for the dead /doctrinal and moral treatises index.htm

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