_History of Marriage among the Jews, Mil. Star, Vol. 13, pages 263, 282, 296, 316, 324, 350, 365, 377_. _Milton on Polygamy, Mil. Star, Vol. 16, pages 321, 342_. _Article, "Marriage Ritual of the Church of England," by J. A. Little, Mil. Star, Vol. 18, page 177_. _Address by P. P. Pratt, before joint session of Utah Legislature, Mil. Star, Vol. 18, page 337_. _History of J. Smith, May 16, 1843_. _A pamphlet entitled, "On Marriage," by John Taylor_. CONCUBINES. A concubine "In scripture signifies a wife of the second rank, who was inferior to the matron, or mistress of the house. "The chief wives differed from the concubines in that they were taken into covenant with their husband by solemn stipulation, and with consent and rejoicing of friends. "They brought with them dowries to their husbands. They had the government of their families under and with their husbands. The inheritance belonged to the children brought forth by them. "Though the children of the concubines did not inherit their father's estate, yet the father in his life time provided for them, and made presents to them: _Thus_ Sarah _was_ Abraham's _wife of whom_ he _had_ Isaac, _the heir of all his wealth_. _But he had besides two_ concubines, namely, Hagar _and_ Keturah; _of these he had children, whom he distinguished from_ Isaac, _and made_ presents to them;" (_see Concubine, Cru. Concor_.) Although Hagar is considered a concubine in the above quotation, yet, according to Cruden's definition, she was a wife of the second degree. She is nowhere called a concubine in the scripture, but emphatically a wife. "And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, * * and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife;" _Gen_. 16. 3. That this condition of wifehood did not change the former relations of mistress and servant, between Sarai and Hagar, is evident from _verse_ 9. The angel said to Hagar, "Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." That Keturah was Abraham's wife is evident from the fact, that she is called his wife in _Gen_. 25. 1: and that she was also called his concubine, appears from 1 _Chron_. 1. 32. That concubine and wife were synonymous terms, further appears from the declaration of Nathan, the prophet, to David, "I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give _them_ unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun;" 2 _Sam_. 12. 11. In the account of the fulfilment of this prophecy, these wives are called concubines. "And Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel;" 16. 22. The Nephites, whose ancestors colonized America 600 years before Christ, did not forget the custom of their Jewish fathers; for when they broke the special commandment of the Lord to them, by taking more than one wife, they also added concubines; _Mos_. 11. 2-4.