Judges 8:31

8:31 His concubine, ¹  who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech. ² 

Judges 13:24

13:24 Manoah’s wife ³  gave birth to a son and named him Samson. ⁴  The child grew and the Lord empowered ⁵  him.

[8:31]  ¹ sn 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).

[8:31]  ² sn The name Abimelech means “my father is king.”

[13:24]  ³ tn Heb “the woman.” For clarity this has been specified in the translation as “Manoah’s wife.”

[13:24]  ⁴ tn The name appears to mean “sun-like” or “solar.”

[13:24]  ⁵ tn Traditionally, “blessed.”