The Role of Old Testament Women
Most of the Old Testament women and her families lived a rural type daily life. The majority of the Israelites lived in small village settlements. The role of Old Testament Women explains: What the house itself was like, Life in the house, Laws regarding clothing, and being a wife and mother. The role of the Old Testament Women began with Adam and Eve once they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. There are laws set in place for when a man take a wife. The role of the Old Testament Women can help us to understand the women we have been studying.
The role of the Old Testament Women can help us to understand the women we have been studying. We know that Old Testament Mosaic Law is important and was not designed to promote independent relationships between the genders. It was a male-dominated patriarchal society. Old Testament Mosaic Laws relating to men and women customarily is in place to strengthen and preserve family the as a whole. The roles for the man and women were set in place when Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Unto the woman the LORD said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and her conception; in sorrow she shall bring forth children; and shall desire her husband, and he shall rule over her. The LORD said unto Adam that because he listened to the voice of his wife, and has eaten of the tree, of which He commanded them they shall not eat from it, saying, cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to Adam; and he shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of his face shall he eat bread, till he returns unto the ground. Out of the ground he was taken; for dust he is, and dust shall he return. (Genesis 3:16-19).
The importance of marriage to the Old Testament Women in the Bible can be found in Leviticus 18. There is a list of prohibited relationships like a man cannot marry a kinswoman because it is wickedness. (Leviticus 18:17). A man cannot marry his sister, the daughter of his father. It was not permitted to uncover a woman’s nakedness, a as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. A man is not permitted to lie carnally with his neighbor’s wife, to defile themselves with her. (Leviticus 18:18 -20).
There are laws for when a man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, then speaks against her, and puts and evil name upon the woman and claims she was not a maid. Then Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate. The father shall speak to the elders that he gave his daughter unto this man to be his wife and h hates her, and speaks against her claiming she was not a virgin then spread the clothe before the elders of the city. The elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him. The elders shall fine and punish him hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he has brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days. But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she has wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shall put evil away from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).
If a man is found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then you shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife: so you shall put away evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:22-24).
If a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel you shall do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and slayed him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. (Deuteronomy 22:25-27).
If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days. (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated. Then it shall be, when he makes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
When a man takes a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. If the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and gives it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God gives you for an inheritance. The law of divorce assumes that the husband initiates a divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1–4).
If brothers dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger: Her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuses to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house. And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that has his shoe loosed. (Deuteronomy 25:5–10). The woman which has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. (Romans 7:2).
Old Testament Mosaic Law gives the instruction not to afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto the LORD, He will surely hear their cry. His wrath shall grow hot and He will kill them with the sword; and their wives shall be widows, and their children fatherless. (Exodus 22:22-24). When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he has taken. (Deuteronomy 24:5).
What the house itself was like:
The typical Israelite house was built of stone or mud brick on a four-room plan. A room ran across the back, with three open rooms running perpendicular to it. Inside walls were coated with plaster, while the floors were clay. The roof was typically about six feet from the floor. It was made with wooden beams layered with branches and packed mud. The rooftop was flat and could be reached by an outside staircase. The roof provided extra space where the family could work or sleep in the summer, and where flax could be laid out to dry. Doorways in the four-room house were low; a few windows were placed high in the wall. (Knuth. 2012).
Exterior walls of the houses were waterproofed with lime plaster or clay with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower. The LORD GOD said He would even rend it with a stormy wind in His fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in His anger, and great hailstones in His fury to consume it. He would break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the LORD. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, the wall is no more, neither they that daubed it. (Ezekiel 13:10–15).
The Windows: Small windows pierced the walls to provide both ventilation and light. The windows did not contain glass and were deliberately made small to protect the house from extreme temperature. Some windows were big enough to allow the Israelite spies to be dropped down by a cord in the home of Rahab. Rahab was a harlot in Jericho. (Joshua 2:15). David used the same method to escape when King Saul tried to kill him with the javelin. Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. (1 Sam 19:12). Homes were with olive oil that were commonly placed in wall niches.
Life in the house
The Old Testament biblical time was used as a dwelling. The courtyard had straw or hay for the livestock the family might own. The furniture in the house varied between the wealthy and the poor people. The Shunammite woman who gave Elisha a room way typical for an average family. They set for Elisha a bed, table, and a stool and a candlestick. There Elisha could come and go at his will. (2 Kings 4:10). There would be a few cooking utensils, jars for storage and water, especially if there was not a cistern in the house. Olive oil was stored in a specific devised container.
The rich used gold and silver tableware, and copper kitchen kettles. They lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall. They chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David. They drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments. (Amos 6:4–6).
The Old Testament Women would keep the house warm by cooking indoors in the winter. A pottery or copper brazier filled with burning charcoal was used for cooking and warmth. An oven was usually built in the courtyard of the house. The ovens were hollow at the top, it could be about 60 cm. in diameter at the base and about 30 cms. in height. The oven had alternate layers of clay and potsherds. Stone or clay storage-silos could be found inside the house were. There was a mill for grinding the variety of grain. A large stone mortar was set in the floor, where grains and food could be prepared by grinding with a pestle. (Selman. 1996. Pgs 489–490).
Laws regarding clothing:
There were Laws regarding the type of clothing a woman and man may wear. The woman shall not wear that which pertains unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD God. (Deuteronomy 22:5). You shalt not wear a garment of difference sorts, as of woolen and linen together. You shalt make you fringes upon the four quarters of your vesture, wherewith you cover yourself. (Deuteronomy 22:11-12).
Making clothing was a major task for the Old Testament women. Most wore woolen garments. A virtuous woman seek wool, and flax, and work willingly with her hands. (Proverbs 31:13). Linen clothing was made from flax. The plant was dried, beaten to extract fibers. Linen clothing was made from flax. The plant was dried, beaten to extract fibers.
The primary role of a woman is as wife and mother:
The LORD God created the woman to be the companion and help mate to the man. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh. The rib which the LORD God had taken from man, He made a woman, and brought her unto the man. Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (Genesis 2:21–23). Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24). Both man and woman were created by the LORD God with uniqueness and equality in complexity and unity. This unity is between the man and woman and unity with the LORD God. There is an oneness of marriage between man and woman. There is to be an oneness between mankind and the LORD God. Woman as the child bearer begins with the promise of the LORD God. The woman will bring forth children in pain, great sorrow and pain and hardship in her conception. (Genesis 3:16).
The role of women in the home has always been necessary to the stability of the Old Testament society. The role of wife is seldom separated from the dominant role of mother. Being a wife was important. Eve was the first earthly woman and was created by the LORD God. There was no instructional manual for Eve to follow. There was no role model or life coach to mentor Eve in the care or instruction on pregnancy or child rearing. Eve realized the baby Cain was a blessing from the LORD God because she said “I have gotten a man from the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1). How heart breaking when Cain murdered Abel, his brother. This would be true sorrow and suffering since he was banished by the LORD God. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac, and grandmother of Jacob, gave birth in her old age. The LORD God blessed Sarah and gave her a son and she would be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years when she got pregnant. The LORD God established His covenant with Abraham for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:16-19). Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. She conceived in her old age. (Genesis 21:2-7). Rachel the second wife of Isaac was also barren and Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and Rebekah his wife conceived. (Genesis 25:21). And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. She conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: She called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. (Genesis 30:22–24).
Child rearing was also a fundamental responsibility of the Old Testament woman. Proverbs urges children to respect the teaching of their mothers. Moral instruction of the small children was critical for both sexes and this was the role of the mothers. (Proverb 1:8–9).
References:
Knuth ,Stacy. (2012). “House, Ancient Near Eastern,” ed. John D. Barry and Lazarus Wentz, The Lexham Bible Dictionary.Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Selman, M. J. (1996). “House,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Role of Old Testament Women:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2298,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “The Role of Old Testament Women:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2298,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Role of Old Testament Women:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2298, (accessed).
