The English word Concubine and the Hebrew word translated so
The English word concubine has an English meaning derived primarily from English usage and has been attached improperly to the Hebrew word. (For of course we know that the Bible was not originally written in English
The actual Hebrew word according to Strong's Hebrew Dictionary (Christian)[ISBN: 0-917006-01-1] is number 6370 and is in Hebrew pronouced Piylegesh.
In Genesis 25:1 (KJV & NIV) Keturah is called Abrahams wife and yet in 1 Chronicles 1:32 (KJV & NIV) Keturah is called Abrahams concubine (piylegesh).
In reality as shown in the above scriptures a concubine according to the Hebrew was indeed considered a type of wife. Though usually decended of one of the other nations and was generally considered still in the process of conversion to The Hebrew faith and usually were servants (i.e. bondmaids etc.)
Jewishencyclopedia.com
Concubine "PILEGESH
—Biblical Data:
A concubine recognized among the ancient Hebrews. She enjoyed the same rights in the house as the legitimate wife....
...The children of the concubine had equal rights with those of the legitimate wife..."
UNGERS BIBLE DICTIONARY (Christian): ISBN:0-8024-9035-2, p. 217
"Concubine (Heb. pilegesh, ...a secondary or inferior wife. ...In Judg. 19 the possessor of a concubine was called her "husband," her father is called the "father-in-law" and he the "son-in-law," showing how nearly the concubine approached to the wife."
The "in-law" showing that indeed a binding ceremony was performed joining man and woman. Only a lawful binding ceremony binds one lawfully together as man and wife.
ROMANS (NIV) 7:2 ...by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
And if we can believe the creator of the universe as it is written of Abraham in Gen. 26:5 ...Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.
John 8:39 ...If you were Abrahams children you would do the works of Abraham.
Abraham we know was commanded to be blameless (perfect) (Gen. 17:1)
Clearly we see No written condemnation of Abraham for this thing whatsoever.
What about King David did he sin in this thing? (see following verse) What does the phrase "master's wives into your arms" mean? And who told Nathan to tell King David this?
Nathan Rebukes King David
2 Samuel 12:8 (NIV) ...I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.
There is more to this than meets the eye. It is indeed easy to judge someone.
Thank you,