And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
Ver. 1. And it came to pass in those days.] Not long after Joshua's death, and before Othniel was judge. See Judges 17:6 .
Who took to him a concubine.] Heb., A wife, a concubine; a not a harlot concubine, such as are the priests' lemans One who is loved unlawfully; an unlawful lover or mistress among the Papists. The Helvetians had an old use and custom in their towns and villages, that when they received any new priest into their churches, they used to prewarn him to take his harlot concubine, lest he should attempt any misuse of their wives and daughters. If comparison should be made, said Cardinal Campeius, much greater offence it is for a priest to have a wife, than to have and keep at home many harlots; for they that keep harlots, said he, as it is naught that they do, so do they acknowledge their sin; the other persuade themselves to do well, and so continue without repentance or conscience of their fact. b A fit reason for a carnal cardinal.
a ημιγαμος : Vero-coniux.
b Act. and Mon., 790, 791.