Ron Hamman’s article about Abraham’s wife or concubine was very interesting. From the tiny amount of ancient Greek history I have read, my impression is that probably the wives at that time were not too happy about the concubines. Many wives may have tried to somehow get rid of them. I believe concubines were a common part of society throughout ancient times. If a soldier displayed exceptional bravery during a battle, often he was rewarded with a woman from the captured area. It probably was inappropriate for him to refuse the woman, even if he was married. It is difficult to tell the status of these concubines. I don’t believe they wore any distinctive dress. In Roman times, prostitutes wore distinctive toga-style dresses. Romans were also very concerned with the maintenance of public dignity and social stability, both of which were based on the conventional family unit. ApparentIy, the concubine system gradually phased out. I’m sure the early Christian church generally discouraged the use of concubines. I say generally, as I’m pretty sure even Saint Augustine (one of the great early church leaders) had a concubine. As pastor Hamman pointed out, even the Bible is confusing on this topic.
Doug Bartko
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Comments
12 comment(s)MAXKATT from NY wrote on Sep 22, 2009 5:10 AM:
Katie wrote on Sep 21, 2009 8:17 AM:
OReally wrote on Sep 19, 2009 4:58 PM:
Rev. Snakefootak wrote on Sep 18, 2009 8:46 PM:
Rev. Snakefootak wrote on Sep 18, 2009 8:46 PM:
"King Solomon loved, in addition to the daughter of Pharaoh, many foreign women, Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had warned the Israelites. "You must not cohabit with them, nor they with you, for they will certainly turn your hearts to their gods". He had 700 official wives and 300 concubines...." (1 Kings 11:1-3). "
Rev. Snakefootak wrote on Sep 18, 2009 8:44 PM:
2bornot2b wrote on Sep 18, 2009 11:29 AM:
Oops wrote on Sep 16, 2009 7:18 PM:
Jim from Boston wrote on Sep 16, 2009 12:54 PM:
Joe from the lower 48 wrote on Sep 16, 2009 12:21 PM:
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Must be the reason it was re-written several times so the faithful didn`t need to be faithful.
Looking to the sky for some mythical guys help is as absurd as reading a mythical book that nobody follows. Many will use the mythical book to condemn others while twisting it`s myths to meet their expectations of hypocrisy, so as to be superior over others. "
Mr. Mackey wrote on Sep 15, 2009 11:16 AM:
Bible Believer wrote on Sep 15, 2009 3:27 AM:
There are many things that were practiced in the old testement that God dosnt nessarilly like. Every verse in the bible that talks about marrige supports a single wife. Matt 19 , Eph 5 for example support a single wife. It was Adam and Eve in the begining not Adam Eve and Wilma. May God guide you in your search for the truth. "