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Concubine

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What is a concubine?

 

click here to read about concubines in the bible 

 

A concubine is a legal wife, but she has a lower status than a full wife.

Less is required of a concubine.

And less is given to a concubine.

 

Nevertheless, it is more respectable to be a concubine than a an uncovered, loose woman. Basically an adult orphan.

 

In a concubine marriage the husband and the concubine agree on the terms on which they will build their marriage.

 

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Why would a woman be a concubine?

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1. The man does not want her as a full wife, because:

she does not have the right status (Gentile, social class, age, etc)

his random preference

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2. Not willing to fully submit to the man: She wants to stay in control of

own body,

finances,

her children of exhusband

time,

diet

activities

career

traveling

plans not willing to be righteously disciplined

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3. Not capable of fullfilling the duties of a wife:

mental illness

physical handicaps

Asexual (does not like sex, does not need sex, sex is horrible)

barren

addictions

constant grumpiness

extreme moodswings

unbalanced behaviour

compulsory behaviour

Phobias / extreme fears (germophobia, insectophobia, etc)

bad housewife

commitments to other people (sick family members, children, etc)

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but she still wants to be covered and have aspects of marriage like: protection, roof, food, clothing, intercourse, children.

She just does not want to be an uncovered woman.

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It is more respectable to be a concubine than a an uncovered woman.

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Despite of the fact that she does not fullfill the full duties of a wife, she must still be of some benefit to the man.

 

It can be for sexual relationship

It can be for child baring

it can be for housekeeping

it can be for maid services

it can be for talents and skills that the woman has

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the woman must be beneficial for the man. She is required to give something back in return for the services that the husband is offering (food, roof, clothing, sex, children, protection)

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all these things must be discussed and agreed upon

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After agreement, the man and woman can consumate to seal the agreement and start the marriage.

The concubine marriage.

 

Demotion and promotion

 

A woman can be a concubine from the start of the marriage or during the marriage. She can start as a concubine and later become a full wife.

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A woman can also start as a wife and later become a concubine.

By good behaviour she can be promoted to be a wife.

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In bad behaviour she can be demoted to be a concubine.

 

After being demoted to concubine and she still continues bad behaviour / breaking the agreement she must be divorced.

 

Ecclesiasticus 26:24-25

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