translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET study note

text: Perhaps this refers to the scattering of the people at Babel ( Gen 11:1-9 ).


text: A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative ( 2 Sam 21:10-14 ; 1 Kgs 11:3 ).