Concubinage was in existence before the Law covenant and was recognized and regulated by the Law. God did not see fit to restore the original standard of monogamy that he had established in the garden of Eden until the appearance of Jesus Christ, but he did protect the concubine by legislation.
उपपत्नी ठेवण्याची प्रथा, नियमशास्त्राचा करार अस्तित्वात येण्याआधीपासूनच आचरली जात होती व ती नियमशास्त्रानुसार मान्य होती व त्याच्या आधारे नियंत्रणात ठेवली जात होती.