Concubinage, a practice in ancient Israel, involved a man having a secondary wife or a woman of lower status than a primary wife. This practice is evident in the life of Gideon, a prominent judge of Israel, whose account is recounted in the Book of Judges.

Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, was a judge who delivered Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. His account is primarily found in Judges 6-8. After his military victories, Gideon declined to become king, stating, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Despite this declaration, Gideon's personal life reflected the complexities of leadership and family dynamics in ancient Israel.

Gideon had many wives and concubines, which was not uncommon for men of his status during that time. Judges 8:30-31 states, "Gideon had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech." This passage highlights the presence of concubinage in Gideon's life, as well as the potential complications arising from such relationships.

The son born to Gideon's concubine, Abimelech, later played a significant role in Israel's history. Abimelech sought to establish himself as king, contrary to his father's wishes, and his actions led to violence and strife. Judges 9 details Abimelech's rise to power and the subsequent turmoil, illustrating the potential familial and societal issues that could arise from concubinage.

While the Bible does not provide explicit laws concerning concubinage, it does offer narratives that reflect the practice's complexities and consequences. In Gideon's case, the presence of a concubine and the resulting offspring had significant implications for his family and the nation of Israel. The biblical account of Gideon and his concubine serves as a historical example of the challenges and moral questions surrounding concubinage in ancient Israel.Judges 8:31
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
Nave's Topical Index

On the Government of God
... Commands of God disobeyed by Christians 82 f. Concubinage, 107 f., 194 f.; laws
concerning, 107n. Constans, Emperor, 144n, 170n. ... Gideon, 198 f. Giraud, I., 233. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/index 2.htm

What is a concubine? Why did God allow men to have concubines in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How many wives did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org

Concubinage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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